Statement by H.E. DR. M. Javad Zarif
Permanent Representative of the
Islamic
on Agenda Item 35
“Question of
before the 57th Session
of the United Nations General Assembly
Mr. President,
Annual consideration
of the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, which addresses the depressing and troubling circumstances
of the Palestinians of the occupied territories, provides members of the
General Assembly with an opportunity to review the Palestinian question. This
year’s report, contained in A/57/35, also eloquently documents the continued
violation of the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people in the
occupied territories.
The report before us
tells of an increasing severity of Israeli siege and control imposed on the
occupied territories. My delegation is appalled by the continuation of the aggressive
reoccupation of Palestinian cities and villages in the past year. The cycles of
violence, each and every time initiated by Israeli illegal acts of aggression
such as targeted assassinations and arbitrary demolition of Palestinian
dwellings, has lead to loss of so many lives and enormous destruction of
property, including Palestinian Authority’s infrastructure.
During the period
under review,
The Israeli policy of
land confiscation to expand illegal settlements has been the major source of
tension in the area. The continuation of this policy over the past year reveals
clearly that
Mr. President;
More than half a century
since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 181 (II), the Palestinian
people have yet to exercise their right to self-determination. Over the years,
scores of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions have been adopted
with a view to putting an end to the Israeli occupation and enabling the
Palestinians to exercise their national rights. To this day, they all remain
unimplemented.
The Security Council,
which has a primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and
security, should play an important role in promoting a fair, just and viable solution
to the
Mr. President;
The question of
The situation in the
occupied Syrian Golan is not very different. It continues to be another source
of tension in the region and the Israelis have thus far indicated that they are
not intent on considering a withdrawal from the Golan. Rather, they have made
repeated attempts to alter the demographic and legal character of the area by
establishing new settlements and imposing their laws on Syrian citizens in
contravention of all relevant Security Council resolutions.
We note that all efforts
in the past years to de-escalate the Palestinian conflict have been torpedoed
by the callous and belligerent Israeli positions and actions — positions and actions,
which further prove that the Israelis are adamant to defy international law and
the will of the international community. Undoubtedly, without the restoration
of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinians, including their right to
independent statehood, it will be impossible to arrive at a fair, just and
lasting solution to the issue of the
In conclusion, Mr.
President, let me express my appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Chairman, Ambassador
Papa Louis Fall, and members for the comprehensive report they provided and the
actions the Committee has carried out to ensure the realization of the rights
of the Palestinians. This work must continue until we reach a final solution to
the question of
Thank you Mr. President.