ArchiveS ArchiveS

                           

STATEMENT BY

H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION

 

25 APRIL 2022, NEW YORK

 

____________________________________________________________

 

Mr. President,  

 

Thank you for convening this Open Debate. Malaysia would also like to thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for his briefing.

 

2.     We once again are witnessing the escalation of Israeli aggression, incitement, and violations against Palestinian civilians and worshippers, including women and children, particularly in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque. Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms these unprovoked and unjustified attacks. These assaults indeed are contemptuous to all humanity. We reaffirm our support for the Custodianship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

3.     Malaysia believes that all conflicts must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Yet, we have witnessed that the same strength of attention and action has not been accorded to Palestine's decades-long struggle in resisting Israel's occupation and aggression. The principles of the UN Charter and international law must be consistently applied to all conflicts.

 

4.     One cannot advocate respect for human rights, rules-based order, and the UN Charter while at the same time ignoring Israeli atrocities towards the Palestinians. We call on all Member States to respect and implement the relevant UN resolutions to ensure that Israel is accountable for its crime and grave human rights violations.  

 

5.     Malaysia also reiterates its call for the Security Council to revisit the recommendation contained in the Secretary-General's report in 2018, A/ES-10/794, on the deployment of UN-mandated armed forces or unarmed observers to improve the protection of Palestinians. We also call on the Security Council and the Middle East Quartet, to intensify efforts towards creating the necessary conditions for peace talks between the relevant parties.

 

Mr. President,

 

6.     Every Palestinian is entitled to live in dignity, security, and freedom. But the fact remains that Palestinians continue to live under brutal occupation and within a repressive blockade; their fundamental rights are denied while illegal settlements are being expanded.

 

7.     The systematic oppression of Palestinians and discriminatory policies are equivalent to the crimes of apartheid. In his recent report last month, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory also concluded, and I quote, “with the eyes of the international community wide open, Israel has imposed upon Palestine an apartheid reality in a post-apartheid world.” Various international human rights organisations also shared this conclusion.

 

8.     Malaysia will not waiver in its commitment and support to the Palestinian people in realising their inalienable rights to self-determination and independence. Our position is clear – only a negotiated political settlement of a two-state solution can create sustainable peace, based on internationally agreed parameters, international law, and the relevant UN resolutions. Malaysia will also continue to support the humanitarian efforts to ease the conditions of the Palestinian people, including through UNRWA.

 

Mr. President,

 

9.     Tensions during the holy month of Ramadan take us back to the painful memories of the war in Gaza last year, which killed many innocent civilians, including women and children. We once again urge the Security Council to fulfil its duties as enshrined in the UN Charter and take immediate and necessary actions to avoid another flood of bloodshed at this critical time and works towards ending the occupation.

 

I thank you, Mr. President.