STATEMENT BY
MS HANIZAH MOHD IZZUDDIN
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON AGENDA ITEM 60: PERMANENT SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM AND OF THE ARAB POPULATION IN THE OCCUPIED SYRIAN GOLAN OVER THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES
NEW YORK, 22 OCTOBER 2019
Mr Chairman,
Malaysia wishes to align itself with the statement made by the State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and the statement made by the State of Qatar on behalf of the OIC.
2. Malaysia would like to thank the Economic and Social Council for Western Asia (ESCWA), for its report on Economic and Social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living condition of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (A/74/88-E/2019/72) presented on the agenda item under discussion pursuant to Resolution 73/255.
3. 52 years have passed and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to deteriorate. As reflected in the ESCWA Report, Israel continues to act in violation of international treaties and various UN Security Council resolutions by exercising excessive use of force and violence against Palestinians. The acts of destructing, confiscating properties and infrastructure of the Palestinian people has caused population displacement and restriction of movement.
4. Malaysia would like to call on all Member States and the international community to continue pressing Israel to cease all illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories as well as illegal demolition of Palestinian homes. Israel must end all violations of international law, international humanitarian law and to fully comply will all relevant UN resolutions. We also urge Israel to cease immediately and completely all policies and measures aimed at the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
Mr Chairman,
5. The Palestinians continue to suffer from lack of access and poor water quality as well as inadequate sanitation and hygiene services due to the exploitation by the Israeli regime towards their depleting natural resources. Some areas are either not connected to a water network or subjected to severe water rationing. Such discriminatory water allocation policies curtail the capacity of the Palestinians to farm and cultivate lands.
6. While it is understood that a number of socio-economic development projects are being undertaken to assist the Palestinians, Malaysia notes with concern the shortfalls in donor support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as reported by the Secretary General. The decline and financial gap of UNRWA will result in serious negative consequences for economic activities and social conditions and could further deepen the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
7. As such, Malaysia calls upon all Member States to continue to support the work of UNRWA by contributing generously to the Agency. Malaysia believes that the contribution would save millions of Palestinian refugees in its field of operation. Our pledge would come a long way to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Mr Chairman,
8. In the occupied Syrian Golan, Israel has also been exploiting, damaging, depleting, and endangering the natural resources. Malaysia urges Israel to cease these unlawful activities immediately. Malaysia reiterates its unwavering position on occupied Syrian Golan Heights – Golan Heights is Syria’s and must be returned to Syria.
9. It is simply inconceivable to envision that Palestine and Syrian Golan, under the occupation of Israel, would be able to realise their Sustainable Development Goals with the current economic and social repercussions. Israel must end its systematic closures and restrictive economic measures in these occupied territories. Malaysia, in this regard, will continue to extend its unwavering and unequivocal support for economic development efforts and aspirations of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and the Syrian people in the occupied Syrian Golan.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.