China News Service, Beijing, May 17. Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, presided over an emergency public meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Palestine-Israel conflict on the 16th.
In response to the current tense situation, Wang Yi elaborated on China's four-point proposal, emphasizing that a ceasefire and cessation of violence brook no delay.
The meeting was held in video mode. The foreign ministers of Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Norway, Ireland, Algeria, the deputy foreign ministers of Russia, representatives of the Arab League, Israel, the United States, Estonia, Vietnam, Mexico, Kenya, Britain, India, Niger, Saint Vincent and Green Nadines and the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations attended the meeting.
UN Secretary-General Guterres and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Winnisland briefed the meeting.
Wang Yi said that the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine has caused a large number of casualties, including women and children, and the situation is extremely critical and severe. A ceasefire and cessation of violence brooks no delay.
The international community must act urgently to prevent the situation from further deteriorating, to prevent the region from falling into turmoil, and to protect the lives of local people.
Wang Yi pointed out that the Palestinian issue has always been the core of the Middle East issue.
The Middle East is unstable and the world is uneasy.
Only when the Palestinian issue is resolved in a comprehensive, just and lasting manner can the Middle East truly achieve lasting peace and universal security.
In response to the current tension, China advocates:
First, ceasefire and stop violence is a top priority.
China strongly condemns acts of violence against civilians, and once again urges both parties to the conflict to immediately stop military and hostile actions, and stop taking actions that deteriorate the situation, including air strikes, ground offensives, and rocket launches.
Israel must exercise restraint in particular.
Second, humanitarian assistance is an urgent need.
We urge Israel to earnestly fulfill its international treaty obligations, lift the blockade and siege of Gaza as soon as possible, guarantee the safety and rights of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and provide access for humanitarian assistance.
The international community must provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine, and the United Nations must play a coordinating role to avoid serious humanitarian disasters.
Third, international support is an obligation.
The Security Council must take vigorous action on the Palestine-Israel conflict, reiterate its firm support for the "two-state solution," and push the situation to cool down as soon as possible.
Due to one country's obstruction, the Security Council has so far failed to make a unanimous voice.
We call on the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities, adopt a fair stand, and support the Security Council in playing its due role in alleviating the situation, rebuilding trust, and resolving the situation.
We also support the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other countries that have important influence on the region to play a more active role and form a broader and more effective peace promotion effort.
Fourth, the "two-state solution" is the fundamental way out.
In the final analysis, the Palestinian-Israeli issue needs to be resolved on the basis of the "two-state solution."
Justice is late, but it cannot be absent forever.
China supports the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible on the basis of the "two-state solution" and the early establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as the capital, so as to fundamentally realize peace between Palestine and Israel. Coexist, realize the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations, and realize lasting peace in the Middle East.
Wang Yi emphasized that China is a sincere friend of the Palestinian people.
Under the current situation, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward China’s “four-point proposal” on the settlement of the Palestinian issue in 2017, which is of greater practical significance.
Since China assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council, it has made responding to the current tensions in the Middle East a top priority and has pushed the Security Council to deliberate on the Palestine issue many times.
We will continue to increase efforts to urge peace and promote talks, and fulfill the responsibilities of the chairman of the Security Council.
We reiterate our invitation to peacemakers from Palestine and Israel to come to China for dialogue, and welcome the negotiators of Palestine and Israel to hold direct talks in China.
Wang Yi finally said that whether the United Nations and the Security Council can make a difference, the people of the world are watching, and history is also recording.
We should and must be united, stand on the side of peace and justice, stand on the side of justice and conscience, stand on the side of historical correctness, practice true multilateralism, and promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Participants thanked China for hosting this emergency public meeting, and generally called on both Israel and Palestine to immediately cease fire and stop violence, abide by relevant Security Council resolutions and international law, and promote the cooling of the situation.
All parties believe that the members of the Security Council and the international community should make unanimous voices to justly advance the process of Palestine-Israel peace talks and work hard to promote the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.
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