19 Dec 2012

UN / MIDDLE EAST

Top UN political official Jeffrey Feltman today told the Security Council that 2013 would be a "decisive year" for the Middle East peace process and called on the Israeli government to "heed the wide international calls" to rescind its settlement plans. UNTV

Posted at: December 19, 2012 7:09 pm

Duration: 03:59

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN/ MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 3.59
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
 
DATELINE: 19 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations Headquarters

19 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council Chamber
3. Med shot, Permanent Representative of France Gerard Araud
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"According to NGO reports, there has been a threefold increase in the number of new settlement housing units which were issued for tender in 2012, compared to 2011. We are not reassured by comments by some Israeli officials that these announcements are, in part, only symbolic in nature, given the clear history of settlements have developed and expanded since the signing of the Oslo records. We strongly urge the Israeli government to heed the wide international calls to rescind these plans."
5. Med shot, US Permanent Representative Susan Rice taking notes
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"The General Assembly vote last month symbolizes the growing international impatience with the longstanding occupation and a resounding endorsement of Palestinian aspirations to live in freedom and dignity in an independent state of their own, and side by side with Israel in peace and security. 2013 will be a decisive year in the peace process. It is incumbent upon all of us to support the parties in stabilizing the situation and permitting progress toward the goal of achieving a two state solution that is so critical for regional peace and security."
7. Med shot, Permanent Representative of UK Mark Lyall Grant
8. Wide shot, Ambassadors of France, UK, Germany and Germany coming to the mike
9. Wide shot, reporter taking notes
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Lyall Grant, Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN, on behalf of the European Union:
"Israel's announcements to accelerate the construction of settlements send a negative message and are undermining faith in its willingness to negotiate. The viability of the two-state solution that is key for Israel's long-term security is threatened by the systematic expansion of settlements. Settlements are illegal under international law and detrimental to any international efforts to restart peace negotiations and secure a two-state solution. All settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem, must cease immediately."
11.Close up, reporter taking notes
12. Wide shot, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation walks-in to the mike
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation:
"We believe that it is necessary to convene without further delay a Ministerial meeting of the Quartet to discuss seriously Palestinian track and to find an acceptable way forward."
14. Close up, reporter taking notes
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations:
"All of us here are saying to them – do not destroy the last possibility of opening doors for the survival of two-state solution. If they continue on this path, illegal provocation, then they are the only party to be blamed for destruction of our collective effort trying to save the day out and to save two-State solution."
16. Close up, reporter taking notes
17. SOUNDBITE (English)  Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations:
"Settlements and I repeat again and again are not the major hurdle to peace. It is the Palestinian quest for so-called right of return and refusal to recognize Israel as a national state of Jewish people. That's the major hurdle to peace."
18. Wide shot, reporter talking notes
17. Wide shot, Israeli Ambassador walks-away from the stakeout

STORYLINE:

Today (19 December) United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, briefing the Security Council on the latest developments in the Middle East, recalled that settlement construction in the West Bank violates international law and is an obstacle to peace.

He said that if implemented, these plans would represent an "almost fatal blow" to remaining chances of securing a two-state solution.

"There has been a threefold increase in the number of new settlement housing units which were issued for tender in 2012, compared to 2011. We are not reassured by comments by some Israeli officials that these announcements are, in part, only symbolic in nature, given the clear history of settlements have developed and expanded since the signing of the Oslo records," Feltman told the 15-member body. "We strongly urge the Israeli Government to heed the wide international calls to rescind these plans."

Feltman stated that the General Assembly vote last month symbolized "growing international impatience with the longstanding occupation and a resounding endorsement of Palestinian aspirations to live in freedom and dignity in an independent state of their own, and side by side with Israel in peace and security".

"2013 will be a decisive year in the peace process," he said. "It is incumbent upon all of us to support the parties in stabilizing the situation and permitting progress toward the goal of achieving a two-State solution that is so critical for regional peace and security."

Following the Security Council meeting, British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant came out to read a statement on behalf of the European Union, condemning Israel's' announcement to accelerate the construction of settlements.

Lyall Grant told reporters that by this action Israel "sends a negative message and is undermining faith in its willingness to negotiate. " He added that the viability of the two-state solution is "threatened by the systematic expansion of settlements. Settlements are illegal under international law and detrimental to any international efforts to restart peace negotiations and secure a two-state solution. All settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem, must cease immediately."

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin stressed the need to resume negotiations and expressed readiness to continue multilateral and bilateral negotiations. In his statement he underlined the need "to convene without further delay a Ministerial meeting of the Quartet to discuss seriously Palestinian track and to find an acceptable way forward."

Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine Riyad Mansour called on Israel to "not destroy the last possibility of opening doors for the survival of two-state solution", adding "if they continue on this path, illegal provocation, then they are the only party to be blamed for destruction of our collective effort trying to save the day out and to save two-state solution."

Speaking to the reporters afterwards the Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor noted that settlements "are not the major hurdle to peace. It is the Palestinian quest for so-called right of return and refusal to recognize Israel as a national state of Jewish people. That's the major hurdle to peace."