22 Aug 2012

UN / MIDDLE EAST

Jeffrey Feltman, the recently appointed United Nations chief for Political Affairs said today (22 August) at the United Nations in New York that while direct exchanges had continued between the Palestinian and Israeli authorities, he still was concerned by the lack of progress in the negotiations that could lead to "successful outcomes." UNTV

Posted at: August 22, 2012 1:19 pm

Duration: 02:04

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 2.04
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

22 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, Security Council chamber
3. Cutaway, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"While quiet direct exchanges have continued in an effort to agree to the terms that would create an environment conducive to talks, we are concerned that we have not yet seen the progress required for sustained negotiations that could lead to successful outcomes."
5. Cutaway, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"I am also worried by the continuous restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the provision of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians affected by or at risk of demolitions and forced evictions in Area C of the West Bank."  
7. Cutaway, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs: 
"We call on the Israeli authorities and the detainees to find an agreement which would permit the immediate ending of their hunger strike and for the prisoners to be well treated, in line with international law."
9. Cutaway, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"We also continue to urge the Government of Israel to allow the unrestricted import of key building materials, in order to allow for more effective implementation of reconstruction works in Gaza.  It is worth noting that most of these materials continue to be readily available in the Gaza Strip from the illegal tunnel trade."
11. Cutaway, delegates
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"We view the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation with growing alarm.  About 2.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, while the numbers of displaced in Syria and the refugee flows to neighbouring countries is growing."  
13. Cutaway, delegates
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"As the crisis in Syria continues to deteriorate, the situation in Lebanon has become more precarious and the need for continued international support to the Government and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) increasingly important."
15. Cutaway, delegates
16. Wide shot, Security Council ends meeting

STORYLINE:

Jeffrey Feltman, the recently appointed United Nations chief for Political Affairs said  today (22 August) at the United Nations in New York that while direct exchanges had continued between the Palestinian and Israeli authorities, he still was concerned by the lack of progress in the negotiations that could lead to "successful outcomes."

Since the beginning of 2011, Israeli authorities have demolished a total of 162 items and structures in Area C of the West Bank that were funded by humanitarian donor countries, including temporary shelter, water cisterns and animal sheds, he said,  and demolition orders had been issued, but not yet implemented, against 142 others.

While briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East Feltman said he was worried over the restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians affected by demolitions and forced evictions in the West Bank.

Noting that four Palestinian prisoners under Israeli Administrative detention continued to be on hunger strike, and that there were reports that the detainees were being mistreated, Feltman called upon Israeli authorities and the detainees "to find an agreement which would permit the immediate ending of their hunger strike and for the prisoners to be well treated, in line with international law."

The UN believes that in order to revive the Gazan economy, restrictions related to the closure of the Gaza Strip have to be relaxed, he said, thus allowing trade between Gaza and the West Bank, Israel and other countries. The UN is working with the Government of Israel to approve UN projects on a regular basis: $360 million worth of projects has been approved, and projects worth $85 million are currently pending approval.

Feltman said he continued to urge the Government of Israel to allow the unrestricted import of key building materials, in order to allow for more effective implementation of reconstruction works in Gaza.  He also noted that "most of these materials continue to be readily available in the Gaza Strip from the illegal tunnel trade".

Moving on to the situation in Syria Feltman said that he viewed with "growing alarm"  the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country while noting that about 2.5 million people were still in need of humanitarian assistance, and the numbers of displaced in Syria and refugee flowing to neighbouring countries were growing.

And on the situation in Lebanon Feltman expressed his concern that as the crisis in Syria continued to deteriorate the situation in Lebanon had become more precarious. He described the need for continued international support to the Government and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as "increasingly important.