RI asks UNSC to urge Israel to dismantle settlements

New York, NU Online
Indonesia has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to press Israel to dismantle settlements built in occupied Palestinian land.

"We believe that the Council could take similar step by pronouncing itself collectively, and with a single voice, to urgently demand Israel to dismantle the existing settlements and to cease the construction and planning of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," Indonesian Permanent Representative/Ambassador to the UN Hasan Kleib said at a UNSC meeting at the UN Headquarters here on Monday.<>

He said Israel`s continued construction of settlements in the occupied land had always posed a stumbling block to its peace talks with Palestine.

In response to the latest developments in Israel-Palestine direct talks resumed on Sept 2 but now under a threat of failure, he reiterated Israel`s continued construction of settlements in the occupied Arab territory remained one of the main obstacles to peace in the Middle east.

"Israel`s settlement policies and practices, which have been aimed at altering the demographic composition, physical character and status of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerussalem, are nothing but a blatant violation of international law," he said.

Many feared the direct peace talks which were resumed on Sept 2 after more than 20 months of stoppage would come to a standstill after Palestine had threatened to withdraw from the talks.

The threat came after Israel rejected to extend its moratorium on the Jewish settlement in the West Bank which expired on Sept 26.

One day after the moratorium expired, Israeli bulldozers were deployed to continue the settlement construction which had been suspended for 10 months.

Indonesia, along with other prominent developing countries such as Brazil, India and South Africa had formed a joint forum to support Palestine including in its effort to proceed with its direct peace talks with Israel.

Foreign ministers from the four countries for the first time held a meeting in New York in September on the sidelines of the 65th General Debate of the UN General Assembly.

The UNSC is made up of five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- and 10 non-permanent members -- Japan, Austria, Mexico, Brazil, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, Lebanon, Uganda, Nigeria and Gabon. (dar)