Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations
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The situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to remain very complex, spawning ever new tragedies. The incidents on the West Bank of the Jordan River and ceasefire violations around Gaza are a clear confirmation of that.

We consider very important the publication on 1 July of the Middle East Quartet’s report on the situation of the Palestinian-Israel settlement, in accordance with the relevant decision of the ministerial meeting of the Quartet in Munich in February. The document, which reflects the desire of the international community to maintain the prospects for a two-State solution, gives a picture of the real situation on the ground and contains specific recommendations. The implementation of those recommendations could help push the peace process out of the present impasse and contribute to the resumption of a direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.

We attach great importance to the positions set out in the report on the unacceptability of violence and incitement to violence by both sides, on putting an end to the Israel policy of settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and on the illegal seizure of territory to the detriment of the Palestinians living there. It is in that light that we should examine the decision, recently made public in Israel, to build an additional 800 housing units on occupied Palestinian territory.

We deem it important that the report clearly expresses the need to re-establish inter-Palestinian unity on the basis of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s platform and the principles of the Quartet. We also deem important the confirmation in the report of the Arab Peace Initiative as a consensual basis on which to move forward to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The report does not shy away from the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza, which contributes to instability and, ultimately, complicates efforts to achieve a negotiated solution. It also underscores the need to unite Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate and democratic Palestinian Administration. Moscow welcomes the initiative by the President of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, to offer assistance in achieving peace between Palestinians and Israelis. We believe that the efforts of Cairo in that context could produce results. Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council and an active participant in the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, will continue with its efforts to find a just solution to the Palestinian question through the creation of an independent Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and coexisting peacefully side-by-side with Israel.

The most important priority of the international community is to resolve the conflict in Syria by having the parties reach a mutually acceptable understanding as the outcome of broadly representative negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. In the framework of the Security Council and the International Syria Support Group, a solid basis for a solution has been developed that has already brought about concrete positive results, including on the ground. The direct interaction by the Chairs of the International Syria Support Group has been very useful. The final word now belongs the Syrians themselves. However, much will depend on whether the opponents of Damascus will set aside their destructive stance, which postpones any peaceful solution. In that connection, we expect a more dynamic and, most important, a more positive attitude from our American partners as well as from influential regional players. The United States, as a co-Chair of the International Syria Support Group must, once and for all, set aside all propaganda and learn to objectively assess the situation. We call on the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to step up efforts to work with the parties to the conflict. The negotiating process in Geneva must be resumed as quickly as possible.

 We intend to continue offering support to the Government of Syria in its efforts to combat terrorist groups led by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Al-Nusra Front. There can be no doubt that in this fight there should be no delays or incentives. We expect and hope that discussions are being held in various capitals, including regional capitals, in countries that are in a position to make a contribution to weakening the terrorist threat. For the time being, there are significant gaps that allow terrorists to cross borders and acquire money, weapons, materiel, resources and access to military-grade toxic substances. This must be stopped.

A very serious destabilization of the region is due to the conflict in Yemen. We are in favour of resuming the intra-Yemeni negotiations, under the mediation of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Yemen, in Kuwait on 15 July, as the Yemenis themselves have called for. We believe that compliance with the ceasefire regime by all the parties to the conflict is essential to promoting further dialogue. In that connection, we call on all the parties to refrain from aggressive rhetoric that could undermine the very fragile mutual trust that has been achieved among the Yemeni people.

Libya is still in a very serious situation. It has not yet recovered from the foreign intervention that undermined State control. The fight for influence among various forces has had a negative effect and the efforts to restore Libyan unity on the basis of the political agreement concluded in Skhirat are moving forward very slowly. Of course, the Government of National Accord will need to be confirmed by the House of Representatives in Tobruk. That is a step that needs to be taken.

Dealing with the continuing negative trends in the Middle East region requires collective efforts by the entire international community. If we are to help the Libyans, we need to facilitate genuine reconciliation among them, and not cling to artificial schemes of dubious utility. Russia is ready to work in this area, both in combating terrorism as well as in promoting political means to resolving existing conflicts in the region.