Build consensus or face ‘increasingly desperate reality’, warns Middle East envoy

“We should person nary illusions astir the existent authorities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland said, describing a concern successful the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) that continues to deteriorate, with nary advancement towards a two-State solution.

Cycle of violence

He painted a representation of an “increasingly hopeless reality” shaped by extremists and unilateral actions connected each sides, that endanger to heighten risks for Palestinians, Israelis and the full region.

“Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and paying a steep terms for the persistence of the conflict, including the protracted occupation”, said Mr. Wennesland.

Meanwhile, colony activity, evictions, Palestinian spot seizures and question restrictions, “further provender the rhythm of violence” arsenic Israeli civilians proceed to beryllium killed and injured successful Palestinian attacks.

The UN envoy described “nightly clashes” betwixt Israeli and Palestinian citizens, and underscored that each perpetrators of unit indispensable beryllium “held accountable and swiftly brought to justice”.

Settlements, beatified sites

Mr. Wennesland highlighted Israeli plans for operation successful E1, located adjacent to and northeast of East Jerusalem, saying that these units would “sever the transportation betwixt the bluish and confederate West Bank, importantly undermining the chances for establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian authorities arsenic portion of a negotiated two-State solution”.

“I reiterate that each settlements are amerciable nether planetary instrumentality and stay a important obstacle to peace”, helium spelled out.

The UN envoy noted Israel’s authoritative adherence to preserving the status quo regarding beatified sites successful Jerusalem, a bloody flashpoint successful caller months, reminding that it indispensable beryllium upheld and respected by “all sides”.

In “a invited development”, the Special Coordinator said that Israeli and Palestinian officials had announced that immoderate 4,000 undocumented Palestinians successful the West Bank would beryllium registered successful the Palestinian colonisation registry and person individuality documents.

‘Breaking point’

Meanwhile, arsenic expenditures transcend revenues and donor support, Palestine’s economical diminution continues, with slope indebtedness options “exhausted”.

“The PA’s fiscal concern is reaching a breaking point”, Mr. Wennesland said, citing estimates that the Authority is present approaching a $800 cardinal fund shortage successful 2021 – astir doubling the 2020 gap.

He voiced interest that “these negative trends are occurring simultaneously crossed the West Bank and Gaza” and should not beryllium near unaddressed.

The “unprecedented fiscal and fiscal crisis” has prompted the request for “significant reforms and argumentation changes - by some Israelis and Palestinians”, the UN envoy said.

Drawing attraction to the UN alleviation bureau for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) continued fund shortfall, helium underscored that it remains “indispensable for determination stableness and indispensable person the indispensable resources to fulfil its mandate”.

Reconstruction

Meanwhile, the UN launched reconstruction efforts to rebuild up to 1,800 destroyed oregon severely damaged homes and successful precocious September, Egypt began repairing 1 of the Gaza enclave’s main coastal roads.

While welcoming the issuance of permits and improved movements of goods successful and retired of the occupied Gaza Strip, the Special Coordinator told the Council that “much much is needed to facilitate sustainable access”, reiterating that “the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism remains champion placed to alteration the introduction and accountable transportation of items and materials that would different not beryllium allowed into the Strip”.

‘Piecemeal’ solution unacceptable

Mr. Wennesland stressed that the existent concern cannot beryllium addressed successful “piecemeal”.

“We tin nary longer lurch from situation to crisis…incident by incident, connected a short-term day-to-day ground arsenic stand-alone issues”, helium said, calling for a “broader bundle of parallel steps” by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the planetary assemblage that addresses the “key political, information and economical challenges” that are barring progress.

Despite the enormity of the existent challenges, “we cannot spend to beryllium pessimistic oregon passive” and indispensable “begin to reconstruct anticipation successful a peaceful, sustainable, negotiated solution of the conflict”, said the Special Coordinator.

A thawing successful governmental dialog is not the “end game” but a signifier connected the roadworthy to ending occupation, suppressing extremist voices, helium spelled out.

“We indispensable physique consensus…for engagement oregon look an progressively hopeless reality”, helium concluded.