{"id":200647,"date":"2016-12-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=200647"},"modified":"2020-07-22T01:01:38","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T05:01:38","slug":"auto-insert-200647","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-200647\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel\u2019s Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms"},"content":{"rendered":"
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23 DECEMBER 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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SC\/12657<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7853RD MEETING (PM)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Israel\u2019s Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute
\nFlagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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14 Delegations in Favour of Resolution<\/strong><\/span>\u00a02334<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(2016) as United States Abstains<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Security Council reaffirmed this afternoon that Israel\u2019s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Adopting resolution<\/span>\u00a02334<\/a>\u00a0(2016) by 14 votes, with the United States abstaining, the Council reiterated its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. \u00a0It underlined that it would not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the two sides through negotiations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Council called for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction.\u00a0 It further called for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism. \u00a0The Council called on both sides to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric in order to de-escalate the situation on the ground and rebuild trust and confidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Also by the text, the Council called on all parties to continue to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final-status issues in the Middle East peace process, and within the time frame specified by the Middle East Quartet (European Union, Russian Federation, United Nations, United States) in its statement of 21 September 2010. \u00a0It called upon all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Explaining her delegation\u2019s abstention, the representative of the United States said it had been a long-standing position of her country that settlements undermined Israel\u2019s security and eroded prospects for peace and stability. \u00a0She emphasized, however, that her vote today had not been straightforward.\u00a0 Explaining that Israel had been treated differently from other States for as long as it had been a member of the United Nations, she noted that during the course of 2016, 18\u00a0resolutions adopted in the General Assembly and others in the Human Rights Council had all condemned Israel. \u00a0It was because of that bias that the United States had not voted in favour of the resolution, she said, emphasizing that her delegation would not have let the resolution pass had it not addressed terrorism and incitement to violence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Malaysia\u2019s representative said effective Council action must be taken without further delay to reverse dangerous trends on the ground that were threatening any possibility of a two-State solution.\u00a0 Settlement activity constituted the single biggest threat to peace, and had led to settler violence, home demolitions and denial of development. \u00a0Decades of human rights violations had frustrated those with nothing to lose, leading to acts of violence, she said, adding that the resolution could give hope to the people of Palestine and Israel, the majority of whom still wanted peace and a two-State solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Israel\u2019s representative said those who had voted \u201cyes\u201d to the resolution had voted \u201cno\u201d to negotiations, to progress and to a chance for better lives for both Israelis and Palestinians, and to the possibility of peace. \u00a0The resolution would continue to provide excuses for the Palestinians to avoid recognizing Israel\u2019s right to exist, he said, adding that the Council had voted to condemn the State of Israel and the Jewish people for building homes in the land of Israel, and to deny \u201cour eternal rights\u201d in Jerusalem. \u00a0\u201cWe will continue to be a democratic State based on the rule of law and full civil and human rights for all our citizens,\u201d he declared. \u00a0\u201cAnd we will continue to be a Jewish State proudly reclaiming the land of our forefathers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine said the Council\u2019s action, while long-overdue, was timely, necessary and important.\u00a0 The resolution required vigilant follow-up if it was to be meaningful and salvage a two-State solution from relegation to history\u2019s archives. \u00a0Israel\u2019s illegal settlements and its wall had undermined the contiguity of Palestinian land and isolated East Jerusalem.\u00a0 To claims of bias, he said the only bias was against law, reason and the vision of two States as the most viable solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Egypt\u2019s representative said the text expressed the painful reality of illegitimate settlements and confiscation of Palestinian land. \u00a0Noting that his delegation had been compelled to withdraw its own draft resolution, he emphasized that it was unacceptable for some Council members to have warned Egypt, recalling that his country had been the first to make peace with Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Also this afternoon, Council President Rom\u00e1n Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain) expressed appreciation for the contributions of Council members whose term would expire at the end of 2016 \u2014 Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Also speaking today were representatives of New Zealand, Venezuela, France, China, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Russian Federation, Japan, Angola and Senegal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The meeting began at 2:07 p.m. and ended at 3:50 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Action on Draft Resolution<\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia<\/u>), noting that he was a sponsor of the draft, recalled numerous calls over the years for urgent Council action to end illegal settlement construction, and said that a recent attempt to legalize settlements on Palestinian-owned land added to the urgency.\u00a0 Effective Council action must be taken without further delay to reverse dangerous trends on the ground that threatened any possibility of a two-State solution.\u00a0 While Malaysia would have preferred a more transparent and normal process of submitting the text to the Council, the present situation was unique, he emphasized, appealing to fellow Council members not to lose the opportunity to advance the peace.\u00a0 The time to show that a two-State solution was not an empty slogan was now, he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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GERARD VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand<\/u>) also noted his delegation\u2019s sponsorship of the draft, expressed frustration that no draft on the Middle East had been adopted in the past eight years.\u00a0 He surveyed the draft\u2019s drafting and negotiation history, saying what was needed was a text that moved the peace process forward by building on the broad consensus that settlements were a major obstacle and that all violence must end.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RAFAEL DAR\u00cdO RAM\u00cdREZ CARRE\u00d1O (Venezuela<\/u>), a third sponsor, said today\u2019s action could be historic.\u00a0 The decision to table the draft was important due to the ongoing expansion of settlements and in order to safeguard the Palestinian people and salvage the peace process.\u00a0 The draft resolution reaffirmed the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live within secure borders, on the basis of the 1967\u00a0lines.\u00a0 At the same time, it addressed the settlement problem and condemned violence.\u00a0 There was wide consensus among Member States, the Secretary-General, other members of the Middle East Quartet and other stakeholders, he noted, urging adoption of the text.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Council then adopted the draft resolution by 14\u00a0votes in favour with 1\u00a0abstention (United States).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Statements<\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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AMR ABDELLATIF ABOULATTA (Egypt<\/u>) said the text adopted today expressed the painful reality of illegitimate settlements and confiscation of Palestinian land.\u00a0 The settlement question was one component of the final-status issues \u2014 that of borders.\u00a0 Noting that his country, had been compelled to withdraw its own draft, he stressed that it was unacceptable for some Council members to have warned Egypt.\u00a0 Recalling that Egypt had been the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, he said it believed in peace based on a two-State solution and the land-for-peace initiative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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SAMANTHA POWER (United States<\/u>) said the immediate adoption of a freeze on settlements could create confidence, adding that further settlement activities were not necessary for Israel\u2019s security.\u00a0 President Ronald Reagan had said that in\u00a01982, she recalled, noting that his words underscored her country\u2019s commitment to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and highlighted its position that settlements undermined Israel\u2019s security and eroded prospects for peace and stability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She said that while her vote today was in line with her country\u2019s bipartisan tradition, the vote itself had not been straightforward.\u00a0 Explaining that Israel had been treated differently from other States for as long as it had been a member of the United Nations, she pointed out that in the course of\u00a02016, 18\u00a0resolutions had been adopted in the General Assembly and others in the Human Rights Council, all condemning Israel.\u00a0 Because of that bias, and some factors not included in the resolution, the United States had not voted in favour of the resolution, she said, explaining that her delegation would not have let it pass had it not addressed acts of terrorism and incitement to violence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The issue of settlements was now putting a two-State solution at risk too, she continued.\u00a0 The number of settlers had increased dramatically, and legislation now before the Knesset would legalize most of their outposts.\u00a0 Emphasizing that one must make a choice between settlements and separation, she said her delegation had not supported the resolution because it was focused too narrowly on settlements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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She went on to stress that Palestinian leaders must recognize that incitement for violence eroded prospects for peace.\u00a0 There had been hundreds of attacks, but rather than being condemned, the attackers were upheld as heroes.\u00a0 Israel faced threats in a difficult neighbourhood, and the United States would not waver in its commitment to its security, she said, underlining that a two-State solution was the only path to peace for the people of Israel and Palestine.\u00a0 It was up to them to choose that path.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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FRAN\u00c7OIS DELATTRE (France<\/u>) described the resolution\u2019s adoption as an important and historic event, noting that it marked the first time that the Council had clearly stated the obvious:\u00a0 settlement activities undermined a two-State solution.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s settlement building had accelerated, fuelling tension on the ground, and it was now part of a deliberate policy aiming to create facts on the ground in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.\u00a0 Acts of violence, incitement and terrorism also undermined the chances for a two-State solution, he said, pointing out that the resolution strongly reiterated its condemnation of all acts of terrorism and called on the Palestinian Authority to discourage them.\u00a0 The resolution was also meant to create the conditions for a resumption of negotiations.\u00a0 Emphasizing that peace could only be based on a two-State solution, he said France would organize an international conference in Paris to re-launch the negotiation process.\u00a0 Today\u2019s resolution and the Paris conference were both aimed at reiterating support for a two-State solution, he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RAFAEL DARIO RAM\u00cdREZ CARRE\u00d1O (Venezuela<\/u>), welcoming the resolution\u2019s adoption, said it allowed the Council to emerge from inaction and work for the resumption of negotiations towards a two-State solution.\u00a0 Of course that was just one step towards that goal, but it was necessary because it seriously affected both the Palestinian people and the prospects for peace, he said.\u00a0 Israel must now end all illegal practices of the occupation, including its blockade on the Gaza Strip and all settlement activity. \u00a0Reiterating condemnation of all terrorism as well as all violations of the human rights of Palestinians, he said he was pleased that, as his country ended its term, the Council had finally acted on the settlement issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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WU HAITAO (China<\/u>), welcoming the adoption, said the resolution reflected the common aspiration of the international community.\u00a0 He urged Israel to implement the resolution and called upon both sides to re-establish mutual trust so that a just and lasting solution could be reached in the form of two secure States coexisting peacefully.\u00a0 China would continue to support efforts to achieve that goal, he pledged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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MATTHEW RYCROFT (United Kingdom<\/u>) said the adoption reaffirmed the belief that a two-State solution was the only way to a just and lasting peace.\u00a0 In that context, it was critical to end all terrorism and incitement, he emphasized, adding that it was also necessary to end the expansion of settlements.\u00a0 The United Kingdom rejected all efforts to de-legitimize Israel, and it was as a friend of that country that it supported the resolution text, since it was in the best interests of both sides and renewed efforts for a peaceful two-State solution.\u00a0 He stressed, however, that he did not anticipate an easy road to that goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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LUIS BERM\u00daDEZ (Uruguay<\/u>) said the resolution represented a critical effort to address negative trends in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.\u00a0 Hopefully it would be a call for action towards the resumption of negotiations on a peaceful, negotiated two-State solution.\u00a0 Uruguay would continue to support that goal, he pledged, noting that both Israelis and Palestinians deserved it, exhausted as they were by many decades of conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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VITALY I. CHURKIN (Russian Federation<\/u>), explaining that he had been puzzled by the process around the resolution and by the haste with which it had been \u201cpushed\u201d to the vote, agreed\u00a0 with other speakers that settlement activities undermined the chances for a two-State solution, as did acts of terror and incitement to violence.\u00a0 Emphasizing that his country had been involved in the peace process for a long time, he said the work of the Middle East Quartet (European Union, Russian Federation, United Nations, United States) remained important and effective.\u00a0 Its July report was still relevant, and implementation of its recommendations would help to return the process to the political track, he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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KORO BESSHO (Japan<\/u>) said he was deeply concerned about the current stagnation in the peace process.\u00a0 Noting that settlement activities were in violation of international law and had been eroding the viability of a two-State solution, he emphasized the importance of the parties committing themselves to the resolution.\u00a0 Peace in the Middle East could only be realized through negotiations, he said, stressing that Japan would not recognize any unilateral change by either party that might pre-judge the final resolution of the conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia<\/u>) said that after decades of paralysis the Council had finally taken effective action to reverse the negative trends threatening peace and a two-State solution.\u00a0 Thanking Council members who had voted in favour of the resolution, he said he was encouraged by the restraint demonstrated by some permanent members.\u00a0 Settlement activity constituted the single biggest threat to peace and a two-State solution, and had led to settler violence, home demolitions, as well as the denial of development.\u00a0 Decades of violations of human rights violations had frustrated those with nothing to lose, which had led to acts of violence, he said.\u00a0 The resolution could give hope to the people of Palestine and Israel, the majority of whom still wanted peace under a two-State solution.\u00a0 The adoption was also a victory for people in Israel who still believed in living side by side in peace with the Palestinians and other Arab people.\u00a0 While emphasizing the need to reflect on the collective failures of the past 50\u00a0years, he also cautioned that today\u2019s resolution only addressed the symptoms and not the root causes of the conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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ISMAEL ABRA\u00c3O GASPAR MARTINS (Angola<\/u>), welcomed the resolution\u2019s adoption, saying that the problem of settlements had continued for far too long.\u00a0 It was disappointing that Israel disputed its illegality.\u00a0 Urging both sides to refrain from unilateral actions that could hinder a two-State solution, he said that such a solution would require unity on the Council, among Palestinians and among Israelis.\u00a0 Angola hoped today\u2019s action was a first step in the right direction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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GERARD VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand<\/u>) said he was very pleased that during the last meeting of\u00a02016, the Council had been able to take a positive step to save a two-State solution.\u00a0 Settlements were a threat to that goal, but so were violence and terrorism, he said, adding that they also created false expectations on the part of Israelis and resentments on the part of Palestinians.\u00a0 Today\u2019s resolution confirmed principles that had long been accepted in the United Nations, he said, adding that, while more could have been done, the text was achievable \u201cright now\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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GORGUI CISS (Senegal<\/u>), welcoming the adoption, affirmed that the settlements were illegal under international law.\u00a0 They encouraged violence against both Israelis and Palestinians, and harmed the aspirations of both to a peaceful future.\u00a0 Renewing condemnations of all acts of terrorism and violence while expressing support for initiatives that could move the peace process forward, he called for the coordination of all such initiatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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ROM\u00c1N OYARZUN MARCHESI (Spain<\/u>), Council President for December, said he had voted in favour of the resolution because it would help to save the prospects for a two-State solution, which must be negotiated between the two sides.\u00a0 However, the Council must fulfil its responsibilities and act on the basis of consensus and a balanced text that could move the process forward.\u00a0 Spain had always affirmed the illegality of the settlements and condemned incitement to violence, he recalled, noting that today\u2019s resolution was consistent with both positions.\u00a0 Welcoming the Council\u2019s breaking of its silence on the issue, he pledged that his country would continue to make whatever contribution possible to advance peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DANNY DANON (Israel<\/u>) described today as a bad day for his country and the peak of hypocrisy.\u00a0 The Council had wasted time to condemn Israel for building homes in the Jewish people\u2019s historic homeland.\u00a0 Those who had voted yes had voted no to negotiations, to progress and to a chance for better lives for both Israelis and Palestinians, he said, adding that they had voted no to the possibility of peace.\u00a0 The resolution would continue to provide excuses for the Palestinians to avoid recognizing Israel\u2019s right to exist, he said.\u00a0 There had been a disproportionate number of resolutions condemning Israel and today\u2019s text would be added to that shameful list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He went on to call upon the Council to turn a new page and end the bias against Israel.\u00a0 Today it had voted to condemn the State of Israel and to condemn the Jewish people for building homes in the Land of Israel.\u00a0 Asking every voting member who had given them the right to issue such a decree, denying \u201cour eternal rights in Jerusalem\u201d, he expressed full confidence in the justice of Israel\u2019s cause and the righteousness of its path.\u00a0 \u201cWe will continue to be a democratic State based on the rule of law and full civil and human rights for all our citizens,\u201d he emphasized.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we will continue to be a Jewish State proudly reclaiming the land of our forefathers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RIYAD MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said that the Council\u2019s action, while long overdue, was timely, necessary and important.\u00a0 Over the years, the delegation of the State of Palestine had made countless appeals for the Council to uphold its Charter duties, insisting on the need to confront Israel\u2019s oppression of Palestinians and its relentless colonization of their land under a half-century of foreign occupation.\u00a0 Those appeals had been calls for the Council to contribute to the cause of peace \u2014 for Palestine, Israel, the Middle East and the world, he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The resolution would require vigilant follow-up if it was to be meaningful and if it would salvage the two-State solution from relegation to history\u2019s archives, he said.\u00a0 Urgent efforts would be needed to reverse the dangerous, negative trends on the ground and to advance collective efforts to end the occupation that had begun in\u00a01967.\u00a0 For five decades, the occupation had persisted with full force, its illegal settlements and wall having undermined the contiguity of Palestinian lands and isolated East Jerusalem.\u00a0 In response to claims of bias, he said the only bias taking place was bias against law, reason and the vision of two States as the most viable solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Urging the Security Council to stand firm by its decision, he expressed hope that the global call for an end to Israel\u2019s settlement activities and violations would compel its compliance with the law, de-escalate tensions and bring an end to violence.\u00a0 That would be vital for salvaging the prospects for peace and should be led by responsible Council action, including follow-up to the reports requested of the Secretary-General in relation to implementation of today\u2019s resolution.\u00a0 Recognizing the efforts of Arab States in the context of the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as those of France, the Quartet, Egypt and the Russian Federation, he called for intensified international and regional efforts to end Israel\u2019s occupation and build a just and lasting peace in an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, side by side with Israel and within secure and recognized borders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Resolution<\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The full text of resolution<\/span>\u00a02334<\/a>\u00a0(2016) reads as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe Security Council<\/i>,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Reaffirming<\/i><\/span>\u00a0its relevant resolutions, including resolutions\u00a0<\/span>242 (1967)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>338\u00a0(1973)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>446 (1979)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>452 (1979)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>465 (1980)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>476 (1980)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>478 (1980)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>1397\u00a0(2002)<\/u><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>1515 (2003)<\/u><\/a>, and\u00a0<\/span>1850 (2008)<\/u><\/a>,<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cGuided<\/i>\u00a0by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming,\u00a0inter alia<\/i>, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cReaffirming<\/i>\u00a0the obligation of Israel, the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12\u00a0August 1949, and\u00a0recalling<\/i>\u00a0the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCondemning<\/i>\u00a0all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, including,\u00a0inter alia<\/i>, the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cExpressing<\/i>\u00a0grave concern that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Recalling<\/i><\/span>\u00a0the obligation under the Quartet Roadmap, endorsed by its resolution\u00a0<\/span>1515 (2003)<\/u><\/a>, for a freeze by Israel of all settlement activity, including \u201cnatural growth\u201d, and the dismantlement of all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cRecalling<\/i>\u00a0also the obligation under the Quartet roadmap for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal weapons,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cCondemning<\/i>\u00a0all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cReiterating<\/i>\u00a0its vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cStressing<\/i>\u00a0that the status quo is not sustainable and that significant steps, consistent with the transition contemplated by prior agreements, are urgently needed in order to (i) stabilize the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to create the conditions for successful final status negotiations and for advancing the two-State solution through those negotiations and on the ground,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Reaffirms<\/i>\u00a0that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Reiterates<\/i>\u00a0its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Underlines<\/i>\u00a0that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Stresses<\/i>\u00a0that the cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is essential for salvaging the two-State solution, and calls for affirmative steps to be taken immediately to reverse the negative trends on the ground that are imperilling the two-State solution;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calls<\/i>\u00a0upon all States, bearing in mind paragraph 1 of this resolution, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calls<\/i>\u00a0for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, calls for accountability in this regard, and calls for compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calls upon<\/i>\u00a0both parties to act on the basis of international law, including international humanitarian law, and their previous agreements and obligations, to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, with the aim,\u00a0inter alia<\/i>, of de-escalating the situation on the ground, rebuilding trust and confidence, demonstrating through policies and actions a genuine commitment to the two-State solution, and creating the conditions necessary for promoting peace;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calls upon<\/i>\u00a0all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues in the Middle East peace process and within the time frame specified by the Quartet in its statement of 21 September 2010;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Urges in this regard<\/i>\u00a0the intensification and acceleration of international and regional diplomatic efforts and support aimed at achieving, without delay a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967; and\u00a0underscores<\/i>\u00a0in this regard the importance of the ongoing efforts to advance the Arab Peace Initiative, the initiative of France for the convening of an international peace conference, the recent efforts of the Quartet, as well as the efforts of Egypt and the Russian Federation;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c10.\u00a0\u00a0Confirms its determination<\/i>\u00a0to support the parties throughout the negotiations and in the implementation of an agreement;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c11.\u00a0\u00a0Reaffirms<\/i>\u00a0its determination to examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation of its relevant resolutions;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201c12.\u00a0\u00a0Requests<\/i>\u00a0the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201c13.\u00a0\u00a0Decides<\/i>\u00a0to remain seized of the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

http:\/\/www.un.org\/press\/en\/2016\/sc12657.doc.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  23 DECEMBER 2016 SC\/12657 7853RD MEETING (PM) Israel\u2019s Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms 14 Delegations in Favour of Resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) as United States Abstains The Security Council reaffirmed this afternoon that Israel\u2019s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":193,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[2433,2377,1329,2805,4389],"document-source":[1362,1897],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1741,2185,2181,1805,1797,2137,2741],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-200647","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-french-text","document-category-multimedia","document-category-press-release","document-category-video","document-category-webcast","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-department-of-public-information-dpi","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-legal-issues","document-subject-negotiations-and-agreements","document-subject-occupation","document-subject-peace-process","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-statehood-related","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/200647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/200647\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=200647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=200647"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=200647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}