{"id":224248,"date":"2019-11-14T09:45:44","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T14:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=224248"},"modified":"2021-11-11T13:30:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T18:30:48","slug":"speakers-voice-concern-over-attempts-to-alter-status-of-holy-sites-in-jerusalem-as-fourth-committee-concludes-debate-on-israeli-practices-in-occupied-arab-lands-press-release-ga-spd-712-excerpts","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/speakers-voice-concern-over-attempts-to-alter-status-of-holy-sites-in-jerusalem-as-fourth-committee-concludes-debate-on-israeli-practices-in-occupied-arab-lands-press-release-ga-spd-712-excerpts\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers Voice Concern over Attempts to Alter Status of Holy Sites in Jerusalem, as Fourth Committee Concludes Debate on Israeli Practices in Occupied Arab Lands – Press Release (GA\/SPD\/712) (Excerpts)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SEVENTY-FOURTH SESSION,<\/span>\u00a024TH MEETING (AM)<\/span><\/strong>
\nGA\/SPD\/712<\/strong>
\n14 NOVEMBER 2019<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

Morocco\u2019s Delegate Highlights Initiatives to Defend Holy City\u2019s Status, Historic Role of Jordan\u2019s Royal Family as Custodian<\/h4>\n

Delegates expressed concern today over Israel\u2019s attempts to change the status of holy sites in Jerusalem, as the Fourth Committee\u00a0(Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its general debate on that country\u2019s practices that affect the human rights of people in occupied Arab lands.<\/p>\n

Morocco\u2019s representative rejected Israel\u2019s efforts to undermine the status of Al\u2011Quds, recalling that King Mohammed\u00a0VI of Morocco and Pope Francis agreed during their meeting earlier in\u00a02019 that the special status of Jerusalem as a multi\u2011religion city must be maintained.\u00a0 Morocco and Jordan are engaged in various initiatives intended to defend the Holy City against attempts to change its status, he added, pointing out that Jordan\u2019s royal family is the historic custodian of Jerusalem\u2019s holy sites.<\/p>\n

The observer for the League of Arab States also rejected the Judaization of Jerusalem, warning that such a process will deepen and prolong the conflict.\u00a0 In similar vein, Iran\u2019s representative expressed concern about Israel\u2019s measures to alter or eliminate the presence of Jerusalem\u2019s Palestinian Christians and Muslims, with the support of the United States.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s representative, however, dismissed those concerns, emphasizing that the very fact that the draft resolution under discussion does not refer to the Temple Mount by that name, but only by its Arabic name, is outrageous and proves Palestinian intentions to sever Jewish ties to Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

Delegates warned that Israel\u2019s violations diminish any prospect for peace, with Algeria\u2019s representative emphasizing that the peace process is blocked because Israel unscrupulously continues its illegal actions, such as its blockade of the Gaza Strip, its construction of settlements, violence against civilians, forcible displacement, property confiscation, plunder of natural resources, extrajudicial executions and detention of children.<\/p>\n

Indonesia\u2019s representative described Israel\u2019s illegal settlement activities as a key driver of human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, expressing concern about increased settler violence, as well as the further deterioration of socioeconomic conditions and the prospects for peace.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply were representatives of Jordan, Israel and Iraq, as well as the observer for the State of Palestine.<\/p>\n

The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 10\u00a0a.m. on Friday, 15\u00a0November, to take action on outstanding draft resolutions and conclude its work for the seventy\u2011fourth session of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n

General Debate<\/u><\/p>\n

IBRAHIM MODIBBO UMAR (Nigeria<\/u>), associating himself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, reiterated his delegation\u2019s support for all General Assembly resolutions on Israeli practices in the occupied territories.\u00a0 He also expressed concern over the effects of settlement expansion on the prospects for a negotiated two\u2011State solution and urged Israel to stop demolitions, evictions, restrictions on movement and other infringements of Palestinian rights, while calling upon that country to halt and reverse all settlement activity.\u00a0 Noting the alarming humanitarian situation reported in the Gaza Strip, he called for an end to Israel\u2019s blockade of the enclave.\u00a0 He went on to express deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on a range of fronts, according to the reports before the Committee and called for the reversal of all negative trends.\u00a0 Reiterating his delegation\u2019s support for the Special Committee, he called upon Israel, Palestine and others in the region to work together in pursuit of a viable two\u2011State arrangement.<\/p>\n

MOHAMED ELHOMOSANY (Egypt<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement and the Arab Group, said no progress or positive development is expected in the Israeli\u2011Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 Recalling that all peace proposals and initiatives have stressed the need to establish a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said escalating Israeli practices in the occupied territories have resulted in Palestinian children being subjected to bullets during demonstrations, adding that they have also endured arrest, detention and interrogation.\u00a0 The financial crisis afflicting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(±¬ÁÏÍøRWA) exacerbates the impact of the restrictions imposed by Israel, he noted, pointing out that the situation in the Syrian Golan is also deteriorating, with Israel planning to expand its settlements and hold illegal elections there.<\/p>\n

IDO BROMBERG (Israel<\/u>) recalled claims that Israel has disobeyed more than 100\u00a0United Nations resolutions, while saying the resolutions are built upon each other, self\u2011referencing and adopted by a pre\u2011declared majority.\u00a0 Citing the Jordanian\u2011Israeli General Armistice Agreement of\u00a01949, he said that when his country took control of the West Bank in\u00a01967, it did not cross any agreed or accepted international border, and therefore did not take land from any sovereign Palestinian entity.\u00a0 He emphasized that Palestinians have not acknowledged the Jewish people\u2019s right to self\u2011determination, despite claims to the contrary, and pointed out that Palestinian textbooks contain maps that exclude the Israeli territory from any configuration.<\/p>\n

If the Special Committee were truly interested in Palestinian human rights, it would address all factors affecting those rights, including the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, he continued.\u00a0 Recalling that more than 360\u00a0rockets were launched into Israel from the Gaza Strip over the past three\u00a0days, he stressed that launching rockets at Israeli civilian centres from behind Palestinian civilians is a war crime rather than a defensive action.\u00a0 Such tactics by Palestinian militants place the people for whom they claim to fight at risk, he said, underlining that Israel does everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties, in accordance with international law.\u00a0 He went on to point out that since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel has made several offers to the Palestinians with a view to ending the conflict only to be rebuffed.\u00a0 The disputed issues will only be resolved through direct negotiations and not through unilateral attempts to pre\u2011determine the results via international institutions, he, emphasized.<\/p>\n

MOHAMMAD KURNIADI KOBA (Indonesia<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, expressed his delegation\u2019s full confidence in the Special Committee\u2019s report, despite the \u201csad norm\u201d of the panel\u2019s not having been allowed to visit Palestine.\u00a0 From the report, it is clear that illegal settlement activities are a key driver of human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he said, expressing concern over increased settler violence, as described in the Secretary\u2011General\u2019s report, as well as the further deterioration of socioeconomic conditions and the prospects for peace.\u00a0 Calling for international action to end the perpetuation of the situation, he condemned Israel\u2019s use of excessive force in Gaza and called for an end to the blockade.\u00a0 Emphasizing the need for that country to demonstrate full respect for its obligations under international law, he said Israel must be held accountable for its illegal actions.\u00a0 As for Palestinian actions of concern, he condemned all violations while underlining that Palestinian actions cannot be compared to those of the occupying Power.<\/p>\n

MOHAMMAD REZA SAHRAEI (Iran<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, noted that the Special Committee\u2019s report contains disturbing findings as to how the Israeli regime treats the Palestinian people, with 180\u00a0Palestinians killed and more than 19,000\u00a0injured between September\u00a02018 and August\u00a02019.\u00a0 Emphasizing that Israel\u2019s occupation of Palestinian lands is at the epicentre of all conflicts in the Middle East, he said the Palestinians are denied their right to self\u2011determination under the pretext of \u201cone Jewish State\u201d.\u00a0 Israel has also taken measures to alter or eliminate the presence of Jerusalem\u2019s Palestinian Christians and Muslims, with the support of the United States.\u00a0 Calling upon Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza and end all practices considered as collective punishment \u2014 including restrictions on movement and the demolition of homes, among other measures \u2014 he condemned illegal settlement expansion and land confiscation in Palestinian lands and in the Syrian Golan, the latter being an integral part of Syria.\u00a0 All those practices \u201cconstitute a flagrant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, relevant United Nations resolutions and the Fourth\u00a0Geneva Convention\u201d, he declared.\u00a0 The General Assembly has a vital responsibility and should play an important role in resolving the conflict, he said, stressing his delegation\u2019s support for the self\u2011determination of the Palestinian people and the establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n

RAJEEL MOHSIN (Pakistan<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, said the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is marred by the denial of fundamental rights, including those of movement and assembly.\u00a0 Noting that such tactics are not limited to those territories alone, he said they are staples of every occupier aiming to obliterate a people\u2019s identity and erase their abiding ties to their homeland.\u00a0 \u201cThe situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is almost identical to that in Indian\u2011occupied Jammu and Kashmir,\u201d he said, citing arbitrary arrest and administrative detention, including of children, as a norm there as well.\u00a0 Since India\u2019s attempt to annex occupied Jammu and Kashmir on 5\u00a0August, it imposed a total curfew and lockdown lasting more than 100\u00a0days, turning that state into the world\u2019s largest open\u2011air prison, he said.\u00a0 He went on to observe that resolving the question of Palestine is critical to lasting peace in the Middle East and expressed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to the Palestinian cause.<\/p>\n

RAHMA SAMAI (Algeria<\/u>), associating herself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement and the statement to be delivered on behalf of the League of Arab States, recalled that, despite international calls for an end to the occupation, Israel continues to enact coercive policies against the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The peace process is blocked because Israel unscrupulously continues its illegal actions, such as the blockade of Gaza, settlement construction, violence against civilians, forcible displacement, property confiscation, plunder of natural resources, extrajudicial executions and child detentions, she said.\u00a0 Describing the situation in occupied Arab territories as a thermometer for measuring international justice, she also expressed concern over violations of holy sites in Jerusalem.\u00a0 Emphasizing that those with influence have allowed the situation to persist, she called upon the international community to support the Palestinian people, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.<\/p>\n

YOUSSEF EL MEZOUAGHI (Morocco<\/u>) called for an end to the violence against the Palestinian people, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law undermining the prospects for a two\u2011State solution.\u00a0 Rejecting attempts to undermine the status of Al\u2011Quds, he recalled that King Mohammed\u00a0VI of Morocco and Pope Francis agreed that the special status of Jerusalem as a multi\u2011religion city must be maintained during their meeting in\u00a02019.\u00a0 Morocco and Jordan are engaged in various initiatives intended to defend the Holy City against attempts to change its status, he said, noting that Jordan\u2019s royal family is the historic custodian of the holy sites.\u00a0 Morocco contributes more than $1\u00a0million every year to an agency charged with protecting Al\u2011Quds and has provided artists and architects to restore the sites, he reported.\u00a0 People living in Jerusalem benefit further from social outreach programmes to which Morocco contributes, he added.\u00a0 Calling upon donor countries to step up their support for ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA, he underlined Jordan\u2019s support in its capacity as one of the main host countries for those refugees.<\/p>\n

JORGE ARTURO REYES HERN\u00c1NDEZ (Venezuela<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, said the increase in settlements condemns Palestinians to living in isolation and poverty.\u00a0 He also expressed concern about the climate of complete impunity surrounding Israel\u2019s incursions against Palestinian demonstrations in the West Bank.\u00a0 The confiscation of land and demolition of homes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory reflects a volatile reality that hinders negotiations for a resolution of the conflict, he said, reiterating that settlements are a key factor behind violations of the freedom of movement, violence by settlers and the confiscation of assets.\u00a0 The aim is to alter the legal and demographic character of the territories, he observed, emphasizing the need to curb Israel\u2019s settlement expansion in the Syrian Golan since they are also aimed at changing its demographic character.\u00a0 The Security Council must demand Israel\u2019s compliance with its Charter obligations, he stressed, warning that greater international paralysis could open the door to unilateral measures.<\/p>\n

HENRY JONATHAN VIERA SALAZAR (Ecuador<\/u>), associating himself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement, emphasized that children must never be the target of violence, nor be encouraged to participate in violence.\u00a0 Urging the United Nations system to mobilize international support for the Palestinian people, he said it should also increase the necessary contributions for sufficient, predictable and sustainable financing of ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA.\u00a0 He went on to call upon the Security Council to take concrete action, reiterating Ecuador\u2019s support for the legitimate right of Palestinians to self\u2011determination.<\/p>\n

NASRIA ELARJA FLITTI, observer for the\u00a0League of Arab States<\/u>, associating herself with the Non\u2011Aligned Movement and the Arab Group, noted that unarmed demonstrators are subjected to violence in the occupied territories.\u00a0 During the Great March of Return, she recalled, many children were victims of Israel\u2019s use of excessive force, she observed, reiterating her delegation\u2019s condemnation of that country\u2019s actions in the Syrian Golan as well.\u00a0 Palestinians are living under the yoke of violence and instability, with no hope for a secure life, she said, emphasizing that the solution to the Palestinian question must involve ending Israel\u2019s colonization.\u00a0 Delays in implementing United Nations resolutions will lead to further suffering, she cautioned, citing Israel\u2019s systematic settlement policy, including forced evacuations and illegal demolitions.\u00a0 Stressing the need for a just solution to the conflict, and for a Palestinian State based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap, she also rejected the Judaization of Jerusalem, warning that such a process will deepen and prolong the conflict.<\/p>\n

Right of Reply<\/u><\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u>, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, took issue with Israel\u2019s reference to the Jordanian\u2011Israeli Armistice, emphasizing that it is not possible to ignore international agreements on a whim.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>, noting that his country is ranked\u00a0thirtieth on the world democratic index, pointed out that Palestinians can approach the Supreme Court in Israel and seek support from Israeli non\u2011governmental organizations.\u00a0 Any attempt to undermine its democratic nature is false, he added.\u00a0 Rejecting claims that his country is attempting to change the status of Al\u2011Quds, he said the very fact that the resolution under discussion does not refer to the Temple Mount by that name but only by its Arabic name is outrageous and proves Palestinian intentions to sever Jewish ties to Jerusalem.\u00a0 The Arab view of justice is aimed at preventing the Jewish people from seek self\u2011determination, with no regard for their own historic responsibility for the plight of their people, he said.\u00a0 Recalling the expulsion of Jews from Arab countries in\u00a01948, he said Jewish refugees did not have an ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA or Special Committee to investigate their status, although they are also victims of the Arab\u2011Israeli conflict.\u00a0 Jewish people are a minority in the world and in the United Nations, he added, pointing out that only in Israel are they a majority.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0rejected the distortions made by the representative of Israel.\u00a0 Noting that the Special Committee\u2019s efforts to expose that country\u2019s actions are openly ridiculed, she emphasized that the international community must not remain silent while Israel belittles international law, pointing out that Palestinian children have lost their lives since the last meeting of the Special Committee.\u00a0 Its reports are fact\u2011based and the result of efforts by principled Israeli organizations that are under increasing pressure as the Government of Israel continues its aggression against human rights defenders, she said.\u00a0 Criticism is on the side of international law, which Israel violates through occupation, colonization and de facto annexation, she added.\u00a0 It is the height of audacity for Israel to refer to United Nations resolution\u00a0181 when it continues to destroy minimal prospects for a two\u2011State solution, she emphasized.\u00a0 Stressing that the right to self\u2011determination does not only apply to the Jewish people, she said the reports barely touch on the dismal reality of Palestinians under occupation, adding that nothing under international law can validate Israel\u2019s actions.\u00a0 Regarding that country\u2019s standing as a democracy, she underlined that a democracy does not privilege one part of its population as superior to all others, behaving like an apartheid State.\u00a0 In closing, she emphasized that the support and solidarity of the international community are invaluable to the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Iraq<\/u>\u00a0expressed support for the statements by Jordan and the State of Palestine.\u00a0 Reaffirming the international community\u2019s moral obligation to exert greater pressure in response to the aggressive actions and violations documented by the Special Committee, he called for solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the use of military power against civilians, including women and children, as well as the lack of access to the territories for humanitarian workers.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0said the Special Committee has demonstrated bias, recalling that it did not approve a draft resolution condemning the firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinians.\u00a0 Different standards are applied for Israelis and Palestinians, he added, noting that the Palestinian narrative is indulged while Israel has demonstrated its ability to compromise.\u00a0 Israel will not help those who seek to discredit it as a nation, he reiterated.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SEVENTY-FOURTH SESSION,\u00a024TH MEETING (AM) GA\/SPD\/712 14 NOVEMBER 2019 Fran\u00e7ais Morocco\u2019s Delegate Highlights Initiatives to Defend Holy City\u2019s Status, Historic Role of Jordan\u2019s Royal Family as Custodian Delegates expressed concern today over Israel\u2019s attempts to change the status of holy sites in Jerusalem, as the Fourth Committee\u00a0(Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its general debate on that […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[660,807,810,3141,885,888,891,897,909,996,1026,1035,1218],"document-category":[2433,1329],"document-source":[5618],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2401,1741,1961],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-224248","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-algeria","country-ecuador","country-egypt","country-holy-see","country-indonesia","country-iran-islamic-republic-of","country-iraq","country-israel","country-jordan","country-morocco","country-nigeria","country-pakistan","country-venezuela","document-category-french-text","document-category-press-release","document-source-general-assembly-fourth-committee-special-political-and-decolonization","document-subject-holy-places","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-jerusalem","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/224248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/224248\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=224248"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=224248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}