STATEMENT BY
H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN VTC ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION
NEW YORK, 21 JULY 2020
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Mr. President,
Thank you for organizing this important Open Debate. Malaysia aligns itself with the NAM and OIC statements.
2. Allow me at the outset to commend the Security Council for the adoption of resolution 2532 on COVID-19 and global ceasefire on 1 July 2020. As one of the co-initiators of the Joint Statement on Global Ceasefire that garnered 172 signatories of UN Member States and Observers, Malaysia hopes that all provisions of the said resolution will be fully implemented by all parties.
Mr. President,
3. The Occupying Power, Israel, has continued to openly declare its intention to annex significant parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the West Bank. Malaysia’s position on this matter is crystal clear. Annexation is unlawful. It violates the Charter of the United Nations, Geneva Conventions and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council that the acquisition of territory by war or force is inadmissible.
4. The annexation will only exacerbate Israel’s mass human rights and international humanitarian law violations against the Palestinians. Israel’s inhuman and discriminatory policies and practices that are in favor of illegal settlers would continue to harm our Palestinian brothers and sisters. In addition to the illegal property demolition and confiscation as a result of illegal settlements, more Palestinians will face greater restrictions on their natural resources, water and agricultural land. In short, annexation would serve to do untold damage to Palestinian livelihood and development.
5. The international community cannot remain indifferent and silent over the latest aggression by Israel against the occupied Palestinians. Malaysia calls upon the international community, in particular the Security Council to fulfil without delay its Charter responsibility towards the Palestinians. The Security Council must condemn and reject the Israeli annexation plan, and must ensure that the plan will never be implemented.
Mr. President,
6. There is no military solution to the Palestinian question. The provocative actions taken by Israel will only aggravate the situation. Malaysia therefore strongly urges the Israeli government to desist from pursuing a military solution. A just, comprehensive and lasting solution is only possible through a negotiated political settlement - a process that the international community and this august body must actively pursue. This must include the complete withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian land occupied since 1967, including the City of AI-Quds AI-Sharif. We also reaffirm our support on establishing an independent State of Palestine, with AI-Quds AI-Sharif as its capital. Only the implementation of all international resolutions on the Palestinian issue can guarantee lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. We, once again, call on Israel, the Occupying Power, to comply with Security Council resolution 242(1967), 338(1973), 2334 (2016), and all other relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.
7. Malaysia will also continue to stand in solidarity with the government and the people of Palestine including in their efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. To assist Palestinians in their efforts to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we contributed 1 million face masks, 500 face shields, and 500,000 rubber hand gloves to the Palestinian government. We have also pledged a financial contribution to UNRWA last month in support of the Agency’s work and operations, and we call on the international community to strengthen the support to this Agency.
Mr. President,
8. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains key to sustainable peace in the Middle East. But one thing is certain, a sustained peace between Palestine and Israel cannot be realized if further annexation is allowed to take place.
9. Thus, accountability and an end to impunity must become an immediate priority for the international community. As members of the United Nations, we have the solemn political and moral responsibilities to defend a rules-based international order and to immediately address such threat to international peace and security.
10. The international community must continue to uphold the legitimate right to self-determination, which constitutes one of the very core principles of the UN when it was created 75 years ago.
11. Malaysia stresses the need for the Council to act urgently in view of the deteriorating situation on the ground to address the root cause of the conflict and to finally put an end to the longest occupation in modern history.
Thank you.
