No substitute to meaningful negotiations to achieve a two-state solution: Serry
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Robert Serry (with blue tie) surveys damage in Gaza City
The devastating round of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians is a stark reminder that the status quo is unsustainable.
That warning came Tuesday from the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, in a briefing to the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.
He says there will be no progress if Israel's legitimate security concerns are not addressed. At the same time, it will give Palestinians a strong additional stake in a durable calm if it leads to a lifting of the closure on Gaza.
“Last week with the situation in Gaza, we came very close to the brink of a crisis that could have engulfed the region. We should take this as a wake-up call that we are all challenged to work together to restore prospects for a durable regional peace. The region is headed for an unpredictable future with multiple sources of uncertainty. What is certain though, is that the Arab-Israeli conflict cannot be ignored I shaping this future constructively. I remain convinced that a solution of the Palestinian-Israeli issue, in the firm of a negotiated two-state solution, is the best contribution we can make at this time to regional stability.”
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry says he has consistently warned about the risks of prolonged stalemate in the peace process for the two-state solution and the viability of the Palestinian Authority.
He warns that there's no substitute to meaningful negotiations to achieve this vision, adding, "This must remain our collective priority".
Donn Bobb, United Nations
Duration: 1’33″
