Briefing by Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, during the 8669th meeting of the Security Council.
Addressing the Security Council, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, today (20 Nov) said, “we regret the announcement made on 18 November by the United States that it no longer views settlements as inconsistent with international law” and reaffirmed that the United Nations position “remains unchanged.”
Mladenov said, “as per UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Israeli settlement activities are a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”
Reversing decades of US policy, the Trump administration on Monday (18 Nov) made the announcement that it no longer views settlements as inconsistent with international law.
United States Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet told the Council that “this complex political problem can only be resolved through direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis” and made clear that “the US Government is expressing no view on the particular legal status of any individual settlement, nor are we are addressing or prejudging the ultimate status of the West Bank.”
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, for his part said, “the United States administration once again makes another illegal announcement on Israeli settlements in order to sabotage any chance to achieve peace, security, and civility in our region for our people.”
He said the declaration by the US government was “unlawful and irresponsible” and to be considered “null, legally, politically, historically, and morally, and it has no value.”
Finally, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said, “we hope that the rest of the international community will find the courage to review the US policy with an unbiased eye.”
He stressed that Judea and Samaria “are inseparable parts of the Jewish people’s homeland” and added that this is “a historical truth that will never again be denied.”
Danon said, “the US’s announcement reaffirms that Security Council resolution 2334 was based on political motives and resulted in prolonging the conflict.”
Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in 2016, reaffirmed that Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.
