China News Agency, United Nations, March 22. The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on the 22nd to consider the Palestinian issue in the Middle East.
Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said in his speech that China is concerned about the recent deterioration of the security situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Vinnesland, briefed at the meeting that the security situation in the occupied Palestinian territory has deteriorated recently, and violence has occurred frequently in settlements in the West Bank, causing a large number of casualties, including women and children.
Israel should immediately cease settler-related violence, demolition and expulsion.
Both Palestine and Israel have a responsibility to avoid further escalation of tensions.
Zhang Jun said that China is concerned about the recent deterioration of the security situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, and is deeply saddened by the casualties of both Palestinians and Israelis caused by the violence, especially Palestinian children.
We call for a thorough investigation into the violent incidents and earnest accountability.
The upcoming April has important festivals for both Muslims and Judaism.
We call on all parties concerned to refrain from provocative words and deeds, refrain from inciting violence, jointly safeguard and respect the historical status quo of the holy places of worship in Jerusalem, and make every effort to prevent the situation from escalating out of control, and not to allow the conflict in Gaza last year to repeat itself.
Zhang Jun said that the settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory violated international law, undermined the continuity of the occupied Palestinian territory, squeezed the living space of the Palestinian people, and also affected the prospect of realizing the "two-state solution".
We once again call on Israel to stop expanding settlements, stop expelling Palestinians, stop demolishing Palestinian homes, and create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as required by Security Council Resolution 2334.
Zhang Jun pointed out that the international community should continue to help Palestine alleviate the financial crisis, improve the economy and people's livelihood, and fight the new crown epidemic.
We support Palestine and Israel in promoting coordination in the economic and civil fields, and call on Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.
China always cares about the well-being of the Palestinian people.
Last month, China and Egypt jointly provided 500,000 doses of vaccines to the people of Gaza.
The 200,000 doses of the new crown vaccine that China has assisted to refugees outside Pakistan have also been delivered to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in three batches, arriving in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon respectively.
Zhang Jun stressed that, in the final analysis, the Palestinian issue must be resolved on the basis of the "two-state solution".
We expect the two sides to maintain the positive momentum of recent high-level contacts, gradually build up mutual trust, and resume dialogue on an equal footing at an early date.
The current security situation in Europe has attracted the attention of all parties, but the Palestinian-Israeli issue is equally important.
Recently, the special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue visited the region and had extensive contacts with all parties on the Palestinian issue to promote the building of a peaceful consensus.
China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts and make Chinese contributions to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.
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