AHLC and other reports

Statement by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, on the recent meeting of Palestinian national factions in Cairo

Jerusalem, 12 February 2021

“I welcome the recent meeting of the Palestinian national factions under the auspices of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The meeting marks an important advancement towards the holding of elections and Palestinian national unity. I acknowledge the leadership demonstrated by Egypt in helping to advance this step forward.

I also take note of the statement issued by the League of Arab States in support of the two-State solution and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, which followed the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The UN will continue to support the Palestinian people as well as preparations towards the holding of elections.”

[ENDS]

04 February 2021

Secretary-General's remarks at the 2021 Opening Session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People [as delivered]

I was very honoured to preside over the beginning of this year’s first meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

My congratulations to the Chair, Ambassador Cheikh Niang, and other members of the Bureau, on your election.

Excellencies,

The unresolved question of Palestine underlines the continued importance of the Committee.

This is affirmed by the General Assembly’s adoption, last December and by large majorities, of all the resolutions on the question of Palestine recommended by the Committee.

The year 2021 presents tremendous tests and opportunities across the board.

It challenges us to reinvent how we make and sustain peace, while confronting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had a severe impact on the Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.

The public health system has been pushed to the brink due to the occupation and the fragile socio-economic, humanitarian, and political situation.

The United Nations and its partners are supporting the Palestinian Government’s work to control the spread of the pandemic.

Through the efforts of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the UN is also supporting the Government’s preparedness to receive and administer vaccines.

The Special Coordinator continues to encourage Israel to help address the priority needs of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – and to support COVID-19 vaccine availability more generally, which is in line with Israel’s obligations under international law.

Excellencies,

The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and bring an end to the suffering.

I reiterate my call on the Government of Israel to immediately halt all settlement activity, which is a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution, and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

Persistent acts of violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as Israeli movement and access restrictions and other violations of international humanitarian and human rights law exacerbate mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians and drive us further from peace.

The Committee plays an important role in mobilizing international opinion and assisting Palestinians and Israelis to re-engage in meaningful negotiations.

The long-agreed goal is clear: to end the occupation and realize a two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and bilateral agreements, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

President Mahmoud Abbas’s call for an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations – and an expanded Middle East Quartet – with considered preparation and involvement by the key parties – provide a positive opportunity to advance peace in the region.

I call on the parties to refrain from unilateral acts that can jeopardize the possibility of restarting the peace process.

I welcome the Presidential decree issued by President Mahmoud Abbas to hold legislative, presidential and Palestinian National Council elections this year.

The holding of elections in the occupied West Bank – including East Jerusalem and Gaza – will be a crucial step towards Palestinian unity.

It will give renewed legitimacy to national institutions, including a democratically elected Parliament and Government in Palestine.

Elections are a vital part of building a democratic Palestinian State founded on the rule of law with equal rights for all.

The Committee’s support to these efforts will be crucial.

I also commend the Committee’s efforts to mobilize support for UNRWA in a way that is sustainable, predictable, and long-term – as Palestinian refugees need and deserve.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me conclude by restating the important advocacy role of the Committee.

Together, let us strive to uphold the values of the UN Charter as our shared framework of cooperation for the realization of the rights of Israelis and Palestinians, the Middle East region and beyond.

Thank you.

מזכ"ל האו"ם

-הודעת וידיאו ביום ההנצחה הבינלאומי לזכר קורבנות השואה

ינואר 27, 2021

היום, אנו מכבדים את זכרם של ששת מיליון היהודים ומיליוני אחרים שנרצחו בשיטתיות בשואה על ידי הנאצים ומשתפי הפעולה שלהם.

יום הזכרון השנה מתקיים בצל מגיפת הקורונה שחשפה שסעים ואי צדק ארוכי שנים בחברה ותרמה להתעוררות מחודשת של אנטישמיות ושנאת זרים.

השואה הייתה שיאה של אלפיים שנה של אפליה, פוגרומים, גירושים והרג המוני של יהודים. זה היה צריך לסיים את האנטישמיות אחת ולתמיד. אבל זה לא קרה.

האנטישמיות נותרה לצערנו חיה וקיימת.

כיום, תומכי עליונות לבנה וניאו נאצים מתעוררים מחדש, מתארגנים ומתגייסים באופן חוצה גבולות, ומעצימים את מאמציהם להכחיש, לעוות ולכתוב מחדש את ההיסטוריה כולל השואה.

מגפת הקורונה נתנה להם הזדמנויות חדשות לפגוע במיעוטים, בהתבסס על דת, גזע, מוצא אתני, לאום, נטייה מינית, מוגבלות ומעמד הגירה.

עלינו לעשות מאמצים משותפים ודחופים לעצור אותם.

כחלק מההתאוששות ממגפת הקורונה, עלינו לטפל בחולשות ובפערים שנחשפו על ידי המגפה ולחזק את קשרינו ההדדיים, בהתבסס על אנושיותנו המשותפת.

השנה הקרובה חייבת להיות שנת ריפוי. ריפוי מהמגפה וריפוי החברות השבורות שלנו בהן השתרשה בקלות רבה מדי השנאה.

כשאנחנו זוכרים את אלה שמתו בשואה ומכבדים את הניצולים, המחווה הטובה ביותר שלנו היא יצירת עולם של שוויון, צדק וכבוד לכל.

الأمين العام

رسالة بالفيديو عن اليوم الدولي لإحياء ذكرى ضحايا الهولوكوست

27 كانون الثاني/يناير 2021

نُحْيي اليوم ذكرى الستة ملايين يهودي والملايين غيرهم الذين قتلوا بصورة منهجية في الهولوكوست على يد النازيين والمتعاونين معهم.

وتحل الذكرى السنوية لهذا العام في ظل جائحة كوفيد-19 التي كشفت عن تصدعات ومظالم قائمة منذ أمد طويل في مجتمعاتنا وأسهمت في عودة معاداة السامية وكراهية الأجانب.

وكان الهولوكوست تتويجاً لألفي عام من التمييز والهجمات وأعمال الطرد والقتل الجماعي الدوري لليهود. وكان يجب أن ينهي معاداة السامية إلى الأبد. ولكنه لم يفعل ذلك.

ومعاداة السامية لا تزال للأسف قائمة وبقوة.

واليوم، ينتعش دعاة تفوق العرق البيض والنازيون الجدد، وينظمون ويجندون عبر الحدود، ويكثفون جهودهم لإنكار التاريخ وتشويهه وإعادة كتابته بما في ذلك الهولوكوست.

ولقد أتاحت لهم جائحة كوفيد-19 فرصاً جديدة لاستهداف الأقليات، على أساس الدين والعرق والانتماء العرقي والجنسية والميل الجنسي والإعاقة ووضع الهجرة.

ويجب أن نبذل جهوداً مشتركة عاجلة لوقفهم.

ويجب علينا، إذ ننظر في التعافي من جائحة كوفيد-19، أن نعالج أوجه الهشاشة والثغرات التي كشفت عنها الجائحة وأن نعزز روابطنا المتبادلة، على أساس إنسانيتنا المشتركة.

ويجب أن يكون هذا العام عاما للشفاء. والشفاء من الجائحة، وتضميد جراح مجتمعاتنا المحطمة التي ترسخت فيها الكراهية بسهولة بالغة.

وإننا، إذ نتذكر الذين ماتوا في الهولوكوست ونكرم الناجين، فإن أفضل تكريم نقوم به هو إيجاد عالم يقوم على المساواة والعدالة والكرامة للجميع.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

VIDEO MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COMMEMORATION IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST

27 January 2021

Today we honour the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who were systematically murdered in the Holocaust by the Nazis and their collaborators.

This year’s anniversary takes place under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has revealed longstanding fractures and injustices in our societies and contributed to a resurgence in antisemitism and xenophobia.

The Holocaust was the culmination of two millennia of discrimination, attacks, expulsions and periodic mass killings of Jews. It should have ended antisemitism for good. But it did not.

Antisemitism unfortunately remains alive and well.

Today, white supremacists and neo-Nazis are resurgent, organizing and recruiting across borders, intensifying their efforts to deny, distort and rewrite history including the Holocaust.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given them new opportunities to target minorities, based on religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, disability and immigration status.

We must make urgent joint efforts to stop them.

As we consider the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must address the fragilities and gaps exposed by the pandemic and strengthen our mutual bonds, based on our common humanity.

This year must be a year of healing. Healing from the pandemic, and healing our broken societies in which hatred has all too easily taken root.

As we remember those who died in the Holocaust and honour the survivors, our best tribute is the creation of a world of equality, justice and dignity for all.