Embassy of the State of Palestine

1. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement expresses its grave concern regarding recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in particular the continuation and escalation of illegal policies and measures by Israel, the occupying Power, aimed at expanding its illegal settlement campaign and further entrenching its half-century occupation of the Palestinian land and encroachment and violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

2. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement strongly condemns the recent provocative decisions by Israel, the occupying Power, to proceed with its settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in grave breach of international law and in direct and deliberate violation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, including most recently Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which was welcomed and supported by the Movement in its Communiqué of 27 December 2016.

3. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement is alarmed by and deeply deplores such flagrant contempt by Israel, the occupying Power, of the unequivocal decision by the Security Council in this regard, which clearly reaffirmed that Israel’s settlement activities have no legal validity and constitute flagrant violations under international law and which called on Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to fully respect all of its legal obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Movement further recalls the call by the Security Council for an end to all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.

4. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reiterates its categorical condemnation of all settlement activities by which Israel, the occupying Power, has continued to illegally colonize the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, though, inter alia, its confiscation of Palestinian land, construction of settlements, the wall and other related infrastructure, imposition of checkpoints, home demolitions, and forced displacement of Palestine civilians. Such policies and practices are being carried out at unprecedented rates, as reflected in Israeli announcements this week of plans to proceed with the construction of more than 3,000 new units in several illegal settlements and thus the illegal transfer of thousands more Israeli settlers to the occupied territory. These actions constitute grave breaches and totally contradict the objective of peace based on the two-State solution on the pre-1967 borders and in accord with the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid principle of land for peace, Arab Peace Initiative and Quartet Roadmap.

5. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reiterates its calls for the complete cessation and reversal of all illegal Israeli policies, practices and measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and at the de facto annexation of Palestinian land. NAM cautions about the destructive and dangerous impact of all such actions, which are undermining the contiguity and unity of the Palestinian land, causing immense hardship and suffering for the Palestinian civilian population, jeopardizing the prospects for physically achieving the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders, and destroying the future viability of the Palestinian State.

6. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms that all such illegal and unilateral measures by Israel, the occupying Power, are null and void, have no legal validity and will not be recognized, including with regard to Jerusalem, and calls on all Members of the Movement and all States to respect their legal obligations in this regard in conformity with the Charter, international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016).

7. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement calls on the Security Council to uphold its Charter duties and to exert the necessary efforts for the implementation of all its resolutions. Israel, the occupying Power, must be held accountable for its deliberate contempt of the Council and its systematic violations and grave breaches of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In this regard, the Movement reiterates its calls for intensification of international efforts aimed at achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution and reiterates its readiness to cooperate and support all relevant efforts, as it did in participating in the recent Paris Conference for Middle East Peace on 15 January 2017.

8. The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement recalls that the XVII Summit of Margarita Island declared 2017 as the International Year to end the Israeli Occupation of Palestine and urges all Movement Members to engage proactively in efforts towards this end and to reaffirm their solidarity and support to the Palestinian people at this critical juncture. The Movement reiterates its firm support for the realization of their legitimate national aspirations and inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination and freedom in an independent and viable State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as for a just solution to the plight of the Palestine refugees, in accordance with resolution 194 (III), and will continue to offer its support for the international and regional efforts aimed at realizing these noble objectives.

New York, 27 January 2017