Palestinians’ observer status should not incur reprisals: Pakistan
Ambassador calls for end to construction of illegal settlements.
UNITED NATIONS:
Pakistan has said that Palestinians’ success in getting non-member, observer state status at the United Nations should not incur any reprisals.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on ‘Situation in the Middle East’, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Masood Khan voiced hope that the new status would pave the way for Palestine’s recognition as a full member.
The UN General Assembly accorded Palestine the status of “non-member observer state” on Thursday. The resolution was passed with 138 votes in favour, nine in opposition and 41 abstentions.
This landmark vote, co-sponsored by Islamabad, marked a clear acceptance of realities on the ground, said Ambassador Khan. “The people of Palestine need compassion and solidarity, not estrangement and punishment. We hope that instead of punitive measures, the emphasis will now shift to the resumption of dialogue for implementing the agreed two-state solution,” he said, referring to the disappointment shown by some countries over the UN decision.
For a serious quest for peace and a two-state solution, construction of illegal settlements must cease, Ambassador Khan said. “The secretary general has noted that 43% of the West Bank has been allocated to local and regional settlement councils, with the result that those areas are off-limits to Palestinians, leaving the Palestinian territory divided into enclaves with little or no territorial contiguity.”
According to the ambassador, the winds of change blowing through the wider region demand that Palestinians get a fair dispensation about their destiny.
“Pakistan believes that comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain elusive without the creation of an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with al Quds al Sharif as its capital. Resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including through the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories and the Syrian Golan is the only guarantee of sustainable peace in the region,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.
Pakistan has said that Palestinians’ success in getting non-member, observer state status at the United Nations should not incur any reprisals.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on ‘Situation in the Middle East’, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Masood Khan voiced hope that the new status would pave the way for Palestine’s recognition as a full member.
The UN General Assembly accorded Palestine the status of “non-member observer state” on Thursday. The resolution was passed with 138 votes in favour, nine in opposition and 41 abstentions.
This landmark vote, co-sponsored by Islamabad, marked a clear acceptance of realities on the ground, said Ambassador Khan. “The people of Palestine need compassion and solidarity, not estrangement and punishment. We hope that instead of punitive measures, the emphasis will now shift to the resumption of dialogue for implementing the agreed two-state solution,” he said, referring to the disappointment shown by some countries over the UN decision.
For a serious quest for peace and a two-state solution, construction of illegal settlements must cease, Ambassador Khan said. “The secretary general has noted that 43% of the West Bank has been allocated to local and regional settlement councils, with the result that those areas are off-limits to Palestinians, leaving the Palestinian territory divided into enclaves with little or no territorial contiguity.”
According to the ambassador, the winds of change blowing through the wider region demand that Palestinians get a fair dispensation about their destiny.
“Pakistan believes that comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain elusive without the creation of an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with al Quds al Sharif as its capital. Resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including through the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories and the Syrian Golan is the only guarantee of sustainable peace in the region,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.