SC - Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East
Statement by Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations
New York, 21 July 2010
Let me first join others in thanking USG Lynn Pascoe for his update on recent developments in the Middle East this morning. We also thank the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine for their presence here today and their contributions to our debate.
Austria aligns herself with the statement to be delivered by the EU Delegation on behalf of the European Union later on in our debate today.
We are close to the end of the 10-month settlement moratorium that the Israeli government committed to. The four month deadline for the proximity talks, after which the Arab League wish to evaluate results, is also rapidly approaching. The coming weeks will, therefore, be crucial for achieving progress in the peace efforts for the Middle East. These efforts must lay the foundation for a sustainable negotiating process. Otherwise they will add to the long list of missed opportunities and play into the hands of peace opponents.
Quartet members are fully committed to helping the parties get back to the negotiating table. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts undertaken by US Special Envoy Senator Mitchell to identify common ground for starting a process towards the implementation of a two-state solution.
Austria calls on both parties to honour the obligations they agreed to under the Road Map and to refrain from any policies that may undermine the spirit of negotiations in good faith.
Israeli settlement activities in the Westbank and in East Jerusalem, the demolition of houses and the continued building of the separation barrier on Palestinian land continue to constitute major obstacles to peace. In this context, we also wish to express our grave concern about the recent demolition of homes in different neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem as well as about decisions on the continuing settlement construction.
Trust in a peace process will depend on visible and tangible changes on the ground. Austria has consistently acknowledged Israel’s right to protect her citizens against indiscriminate attacks emanating from Gaza. We repeat our call for an immediate end to all such attacks.
At the same time, we continue to believe that security concerns cannot justify the blockade of Gaza. This blockade is unacceptable, unsustainable and counterproductive. We therefore welcome Israel’s willingness to review its policies regarding imports to the Gaza Strip. We are convinced that the prospect of reconstruction, new job opportunities and increased freedom of movement can contribute to a positive shift of attitudes and reverse the current worrying trend of de-development as asserted by UN experts.
We welcome Israel’s decision to allow, as a first step, imports of building material for UN-supervised projects.
These measures go in the right direction. At the same time, they still fall short of the fundamental change of policy leading to a durable solution to the situation in Gaza that the Foreign Ministers of the European Union called for in their latest Council Conclusions. We strongly encourage Israel to allow for large scale reconstruction, to create conditions for a full resumption of productive activities, to allow for exports of agricultural produce and industrial goods as soon as production can recommence and, most importantly, to grant freedom of movement to the civilian population living in the Gaza Strip.
Austria is deeply disturbed by recent attacks against NGOs and international organizations in Gaza, including the vandalizing of an UNRWA summer games facility for children. Hamas as the de-facto authority in Gaza bears the responsibility to ensure the safety and unhindered operations of the United Nations and civil society.
Regarding the follow-up to the Security Council’s Presidential Statement of 1 June concerning the military operation against the Gaza flotilla, we wish to reiterate the importance of a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards to clarify all facts. We therefore support the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General and call on Israel to positively react to his proposal for an international inquiry.
Austria welcomes the continuing trend of increased stability and economic growth in the Westbank, particularly as it seems not only due to foreign aid but also to improved overall security and a number of successful reform efforts by the Palestinian Authority.
Nonetheless, last month’s decision to postpone municipal elections was a painful setback in the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to build the institutions of a future state.
We call on Palestinian political representatives to seriously pursue reconciliation efforts and to agree on a political platform based on the Quartet Principles, the quest for peace, democracy and the rule of law. The current split between the Westbank and the Gaza Strip jeopardizes prospects of the successful implementation of a two-state solution.
