“As a result of the continued Israeli intransigence and disruption of the peace process, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls upon all member states of the UN to recognize the State of Palestine on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital; and to grant it full membership of the United Nations,” Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said Monday.
The UN Security Council is meeting on Wednesday to hand the issue to a committee that will review and assess the Palestinian application.
The prince’s comments come after the US pledged to veto the Palestinian bid for full UN membership.
In a written statement distributed among delegates attending the UN General Assembly sessions in New York, a copy of which was obtained by Arab News, Prince Saud also touched on the Kingdom’s views on UN reforms.
“One of the important reforms should be restricting the use of the veto power through a commitment from permanent members not to use it toward actions that are intended for the implementation of already adopted resolutions of the Security Council,” he said.
Prince Saud further elaborated on the reform issue.
“We are of the view that real reform requires giving the General Assembly a key role in maintaining international peace and security. Moreover, my country believed and still believes that the ultimate goal for any restructuring of the Security Council should be strengthening its capabilities in order to effectively play its role in accordance with the UN Charter,” he said.
The Kingdom urged the UN to avoid double standard and ensure its credibility and seriousness through respecting the principles of international legitimacy, the provisions of international law and the requirements of international justice.
On the topic of the Arab Spring pro-democracy movements across the Middle East and North Africa, Prince Saud reiterated Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of military operations against the defenseless people in Syria.
He also called on “all parties in brotherly Yemen to clearly announce their full commitment to implement the peaceful transition of power as stipulated in the GCC initiative in order to swiftly end the serious Yemeni crisis.”
Prince Saud’s statement focused the Arab-Israeli conflict that still predominates and overshadows all issues of the Middle East.
“No other regional conflict is more influential upon world peace. What exacerbates the problem is the absence of the Israeli government’s good intentions. It still proceeds with the acquisition of more Palestinian land, still builds settlements to create facts on ground and still continues the killing and displacement of Palestinians and confiscation of their land and properties,” he said.
Prince Saud said the continuing construction of Israeli homes in occupied Arab territories would undermine the possibility of creating a contiguous and viable Palestinian state, making it difficult for any Palestinian government to function effectively.
“It is unethical to impose siege and sanctions on people suffering under occupation, while the occupying authority continues its settlement activities free from any accountability and in defiance of Geneva Conventions.”
The Saudi minister blamed Israel for the failure of peace talks.
“The time has come for Israel to know that it cannot proceed with ignoring international legitimacy emanating from international law. Yet, states in the Security Council, including permanent members, have unanimously and repeatedly issued statements against the continuation of Israeli settlement activities.”
He said Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have expressed their desire for peace with Israel through the Arab Peace Initiative, which was adopted by the Beirut Arab Summit in 2004.
“However, we were not met by any reciprocal commitment from Israel. It is crucial that the international community takes a clear position that reflects its consensus on taking concrete actions to revive the peace process,” the prince said.
He said Israel should immediately cease settlement construction and recognize the right of Palestinians to establish an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital as well as reaching an equitable solution to the refugee’s issue in accordance with international resolutions.
The Kingdom also blasted the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
“The situation in the besieged Gaza Strip is another factor that exacerbates the problem as Gaza became a huge prison due to the unjust blockade imposed by Israel that causes grave humanitarian consequences. Furthermore, Israeli occupying forces continued atrocious military attacks against the Palestinian people which demonstrate that Israel, by committing these aggressions and repeated transgressions, is a state above the law,” he added.
Prince Saud said Tel Aviv was taking advantage of the international community’s silence and negligence toward Israeli war crimes.
“We urge the United Nations, particularly the Security Council and the Quartet, to assume their responsibilities to stop the persistent Israeli aggression, to work on providing international protection for the unarmed Palestinian people in Gaza, to end the Israeli blockade and open the crossings from and to the Gaza strip.”
He said Arabs were looking for a comprehensive peace settlement.
“It will not be achieved without the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territories, including Golan and Lebanese territories. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia calls upon the Security Council to act without delay to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East as provided in Security Council resolutions 242, 338, and all relevant UN resolutions and decisions of Madrid Conference, in particular the principle of ‘Land for Peace’ as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.”
Prince Saud also referred to the Kingdom’s efforts in alleviating the suffering of the victims of natural disasters and fighting poverty and diseases.
He said Saudi Arabia’s foreign aid during the past three decades amounted to $100 billion which benefited more than 90 developing countries. In the sphere of debt relief, Saudi Arabia waived about $6 billion of debts owed by the least developed countries.
The Kingdom also fulfilled its full share in the Debt Relief Initiative Fund of the International Monetary Fund.
“The urgent issues facing the world such as climate change, food security and rising commodity prices require the joint cooperation of international community with all its components in order to find equitable solutions that take everyone’s interests into consideration,” the prince said.
During the OPEC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia made a contribution of $300 million to establish a special fund for research on energy, environment and climate change.
In addition, the Kingdom contributed $500 million for the World Food Program to offset the rising food prices, which helped 62 developing countries around the globe, he explained.
Prince Saud denounced the move by some parties to link Islam and Muslims with terrorism.
“There is grave injustice committed against Islam when some people tend to brush it with terrorism, while this religion calls for tolerance, coexistence and applying its principles to achieve its objectives,” he said and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat terrorism. The Kingdom signed an agreement last week to establish the UN Center for Counterterrorism.
The foreign minister also noted the Kingdom’s efforts to promote cultural and interfaith dialogue.
“We are required to forge serious cooperation, under the umbrella of the United Nations, to create a healthy environment to promote the values of dialogue, tolerance and moderation; and to build cooperation and peace relationships between cultures, peoples and nations.
Based on our keenness to achieve these noble objectives, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah initiated the launch of his sincere and comprehensive approach to dialogue between all followers of religions and cultures,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is working, in cooperation with Austria and Spain, on establishing the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Center for Dialogue in Vienna.
In his concluding remarks, Prince Saud reiterated the Kingdom’s support to the United Nations and multilateral international system.
“Our international community is in dire need of unity and synergy in order to develop equitable solutions to aggravated international problems,” he said.
