I would like to thank the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Tor Wennesland, and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, for their detailed presentations on the situation in the Middle East, and I congratulate the Minister of State Othman Jerandi of Tunisia for the excellent leadership of the Security Council presidency during the month of January. I recognize the participation of ministers and other high-level officials of the members of the Council, and I welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine, Mr. Riyad Al-Maliki, and the Israeli delegation.
In this first debate of the year on the situation in the Middle East, we must reflect on the way in which the Security Council contributes to resuming the negotiations that will make it possible to reach a solution to the conflict in the region. It is encouraging to have new actors within and outside of the Council to give renewed momentum and take a collective approach to this issue.
Therefore, we welcome Mr. Wennesland as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and we express our appreciation for the work done by Mr. Nickolay Mladenov in discharging this responsibility over the last few years.
Our goal is clear: to promote a comprehensive and definitive solution to the conflict based on the premise of two states that addresses Israel's legitimate security concerns and allows for the consolidation of a politically and economically viable Palestinian State that lives side-by-side in peace with Israel within secure and internationally recognized borders, as well as the special status of Jerusalem, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. It is essential to reaffirm the political commitment to the search for a negotiated agreement.
The responsibility of resuming the peace process rests, first of all, on the commitment of Israel and Palestine. The international community must promote, facilitate and support this process, in order to guarantee a just and sustainable peace in the region.
Mexico takes a special interest in multilateral initiatives to achieve a negotiated solution, either through the possibility of revitalizing the quartet or convening an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations, as has been proposed by Palestine. Any diplomatic initiative to cement peace in the region is welcome.
Given the current circumstances, the parties must refrain from taking actions that impede the peace process. Mexico believes that upholding the provisions of resolution 2334 (2016), which stress that Israeli settlements must cease, is essential for a two-state solution. Settlement activities, by being actions that are contrary to international law, including international humanitarian law, are an obstacle to efforts to reach a lasting solution that brings peace to Israelis and Palestinians.
Therefore, and in accordance with the foregoing, we condemn the expansion of settlements and call for an immediate halt to their expansion, and for the demolition of Palestinian structures to cease, in order to reverse the negative trends on the ground.
At the same time, Mexico believes that the recent establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and various Arab countries represents an important step towards stability and provides an opportunity to broaden mutual understanding and to relaunch the Middle East peace process.
We recognize the progress made in the intra-Palestinian dialogue and stress the importance of holding presidential, legislative and Palestinian National Council elections in the near future. The support of the international community is essential to allow a peaceful and democratic electoral process to take place.
As long as the conditions for reaching a political solution and a lasting peace do not exist, it will be difficult to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population. For this reason, all parties must avoid violent actions, ensuring that the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians are respected and protected. In this regard, Mexico strongly condemns the attacks by organizations in Gaza against Israel and the disproportionate responses to these attacks.
While the humanitarian situation was already complex, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought serious economic, social and humanitarian consequences for the West Bank population, especially in Gaza.
The pandemic has highlighted the crucial need to resume and expand economic and financial cooperation between Palestine and Israel, and to facilitate the safe transit of people, goods, medical equipment and supplies and vaccines.
Mexico recognizes the work done by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to meet the basic and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian refugees, mainly on the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Its work continues to be instrumental in providing education and health services to the Palestinian refugees.
Recently, Mexico gave a further financial contribution in the amount of $750,000 dollars to the Agency, to support its ongoing operations that benefit the Palestinian people, one of the most vulnerable in the region.
As a country committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, Mexico will continue to support all efforts aimed at establishing a lasting peace in the region, based on mutual respect and in full adherence to the rule of law.
Thank you.