Egypt urges UNSC to end Palestinian suffering

CAIRO – 20 June 2017: The United Nations should be committed to the promotion and protection of the Palestinians’ rights, Egypt's permanent delegate to the UN Amr Abo El-Ata said Tuesday.

During a meeting of the UN Security Council, Abo El-Ata demanded the international community ease the suffering of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation, asserting that the Middle East’s stability is deeply intertwined with achieving peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.

All peoples have the right to live in security, including the Israeli people who are entitled to live in peace within their borders and in the framework of good relations with the neighboring countries in the region, especially the Arab countries, Abo El-Ata added.

He pointed out that achieving equality among people is the basis of justice and stability, stressing no nation can achieve security, peace and prosperity while the Palestinian people still suffer.

In the same content, the secretary general of the Arab League Ahmed Abo Al-Ghet said that solving the dispute over borders, Jerusalem and refugees is the basis of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process.

He added in his speech before the Security Council, that this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, asserting that it is time to end the nightmare of occupation, which contributed to the rise of violence, radicalism and terrorism in the region.

He explained that violence and terrorism is a result of the world’s failure to settle the Palestinian cause.

Abo Al-Ghet accused Israel of violating the Charter of the United Nations and international law, expressing his disbelief that Israel is allowed to join the Security Council. He stressed that accepting Israel, as a member of this council, is a violation of its legitimacy.

Since June 5, 1967, Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories after it had won the six-day war against neighboring Arab states. It has been 50 years since Palestinians have been subjugated to the longest-standing military occupation in modern history.