UNITED NATIONS - A Chinese envoy said Tuesday that it is imperative to resolve the Palestinian question, which lies at the heart of turmoil in the Middle East.
The Palestinian issue remains central to the Middle East, bearing on the region's peace and stability, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
For over seven decades, the Palestinian-Israeli situation has repeatedly fallen into turmoil and war, shaping the international landscape, he told a high-level meeting of the Security Council.
Since the outbreak of the current Gaza war, the Palestinian people have been deeply mired in suffering, he said, adding that Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran have witnessed escalating tensions, and even Qatar has come under attack.
The mounting conflicts and volatility in the Middle East have worsened the global security environment, dampened the economic outlook for the world, and run counter to the common interests of the international community, he said. "It is therefore imperative to accord this issue the utmost importance and accelerate its resolution."
The tragedy in Gaza must come to an end without delay, said Geng, noting that the conflict has left Gaza devastated and scarred. Yet Israel continues to escalate its military offensive, causing even greater civilian casualties and displacement. "We urge Israel to cease all military actions in Gaza without delay, fulfill its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law, and fully restore humanitarian access," he said.
Israel continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, forcibly demolishing Palestinian structures while conducting frequent raids, arrests and attacks, and condoning settler violence, he said. Noting Israel has recently approved and advanced the E1 settlement plan, Geng said this dangerous action constitutes a grave violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, undermines the territorial contiguity of Palestine and erodes the foundation for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
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China calls on Israel to immediately cease all settlement activities, curb settler violence, and remove restrictions on Palestinian economic activities, he said.
The two-state solution is the only viable way to solve the Palestinian question, he noted, adding that several Western countries have recently recognized Palestinian statehood. The international community should sustain the current momentum, strive to revitalize the prospect for the two-state solution, and support the early establishment of an independent Palestinian state and its admission as a full member of the United Nations, said Geng.
From the onset of the current Gaza conflict, there have been military adventurism and frequent abuses of force, triggering profound changes in the regional landscape, Geng said. China calls on all parties to respect the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of countries in the Middle East and for Israel to earnestly respect the rights to survival and development of the people in the region. China asks that all countries in the region uphold a vision of common security and come together to shape a regional order based on equity and justice in order to jointly build a future of peace and development, he said.
China has always upheld fairness and justice regarding Palestine and has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people, Geng stressed. China remains committed to working with the international community to promote a ceasefire, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, he said.
