Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at UNSC Arria-formula meeting on the Middle East

Mr. Chairman,

Ukraine consistently supports the Middle East peace process and the principle of a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace and security.
The lack of a direct dialogue and an almost non-existent political process create an extremely unpredictable and explosive situation. This deteriorating trend has become a new “normal”, thus making an agreement on the basis of a two-state solution ever more elusive.
And here we have to admit that one of the strongest drivers contributing to today’s status-quo is the Israeli settlement policy. The announcement on October 5 of Israel’s intention to build 300 housing units and to establish an industrial zone in the West Bank is a clear signal of further intensification of settlement activities. Linking a string of outposts in the West Bank that would effectively divide it will in fact upset and may potentially ruin Palestinian state building efforts. Notwithstanding that the new housing would be built on state-owned land within existing settlements, this is yet another hard blow to the peace process.
But terror is not an answer. Ukraine strongly condemns the shooting that took place on the 8th of October next to the police headquarters on Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill and claimed 2 killed and 4 injured.
We are deeply concerned by a vicious circle of escalation that we constantly witness. The often repeated pattern of attacks and counter-attacks demonstrates that the status-quo is a road to nowhere. We strongly believe that all sides must demonstrate genuine restraint and refrain from disproportionate use of force that could only stir up the violence and lead to increased casualties – all that can play into extremists’ hands, who are trying to undermine the fragile prospects for peace.
Thus stopping violence and de-escalating the situation is an immediate priority. Concrete steps should be taken by all sides to calm tensions, to bring back the parties to the negotiating table, to renew peace process and to re-inject some confidence into the moribund two-state solution.
Ukraine calls on political leaders from all sides to work together through visible actions to de-escalate the situation and to restart direct dialogue. Ukraine reiterates its position that in elaborating a workable Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, relevant provisions of respective UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, including land for peace, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, must be respected.

I thank you.