STATEMENT BY
AMBASSADOR DR. AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE
HIGH-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION
Co-Chairs,
I thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France for leading this important process, at a time when the entire world is outraged by Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, and the two-State solution is in grave peril.
Co-Chairs,
- Malaysia wishes to put forth three points. First, the solution to this longstanding conflict must be based on international law and the UN Charter. International law, the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions, as well as rulings and opinions of the International Court of Justice, must set the parameters and provide the guiding principles in our endeavour.
- In line with the relevant UN resolutions, we must galvanise our efforts to realise the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people through a fully sovereign State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its Capital.
- The recognition of the State of Palestine is a crucial step to protect the two-state solution. We commend countries that have made the bold decision to recognise the State of Palestine, and urge others that have not, to do so urgently.
- As the Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), Malaysia will continue to work closely with other Committee members to advocate for the recognition of the State of Palestine and its full membership in the United Nations.
- The international community must take all necessary steps not to support, but to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands, which has been deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice. We must categorically oppose forced displacement of Palestinians or any attempt to change the demographics of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
- We must support a robust sanctions framework that bans the supply of arms, munitions and items that enable Israel to further expand and entrench its occupation. Sanctions must also be expanded to include those who incite hatred and violence, illegal settlers, organisations and businesses that support or profit from the illegal settlements.
- Malaysia, since December 2023, has banned Israeli-flagged ships and ships bound for Israel from docking in Malaysian ports. This is another tangible step that can be taken by Member States to reject Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.
- We must also end Israel’s impunity. Israel has to be held accountable for its violations of International Law, including International Humanitarian Law. In this connection, Malaysia has participated in proceedings at the International Court of Justice aimed at protecting the Palestinian people. We stand ready to participate in future legal processes to ensure accountability, end Israel’s impunity and attain justice for the Palestinian people.
- As a member of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People, Malaysia will continue to work closely with other members and UN mandate holders, including the Independent International Commission of Inquiry and the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to ensure proper accountability measures and justice for the Palestinian people.
- Secondly, we must protect and strengthen the central role of the UN.
- We must unambiguously reject Israel’s attempts to undermine the UN. This includes standing up against Israel’s actions to malign, discredit and intimidate UN officials, including special mandate holders. We must also fight against Israel’s relentless efforts to dismantle UNRWA. Israel must be pressured to fully cooperate with the UN, especially by allowing unimpeded access for humanitarian missions, through UN-led mechanism. We are appalled by the deaths of about a thousand Palestinian civilians while seeking food aid at sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
- We must support UNRWA, which provides essential services to Palestinian refugees and remains irreplaceable, until empowered Palestinian institutions are able to assume this responsibility, as outlined in General Assembly Resolution 194. Malaysia has been a regular contributor to UNRWA, and is exploring a multi-year funding agreement, to ensure predictability of UNRWA’s funding.
- Third, we must ensure the viability of the Palestinian State. A fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine can only be meaningful if its authorities are able to exercise full control over its territories and natural resources, and thrive economically.
- Malaysia supports a UN-mandated transition plan, with the concurrence of the State of Palestine, in the form of a peacekeeping operation, a stabilisation mission, or a protection mission. The mandate of such a mission must include, among other elements, monitoring the implementation of a ceasefire and Israel’s full withdrawal from Palestinian territories, as well as ensuring the overall security and protection of civilians. Malaysia stands ready to contribute peacekeeping personnel to support such a mission.
- We also support the Arab-OIC Reconstruction Plan and are ready to participate in its implementation.
- Malaysia is also ready to further enhance its capacity building programmes to help strengthen Palestinian institutions. Under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, we are ready to offer tailored capacity-building programmes to Palestinian officials to strengthen state institutions and enhance the economic viability of the Palestinian state, leveraging on our own experience and expertise.
- Additionally, Malaysia believes in a whole-of-nation approach to national development. In that spirit, we will encourage collaborations involving private sectors, universities and civil society, in our efforts.
Co-Chairs,
- The two-State solution is and remains the only internationally-recognised solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is totally unacceptable that 78 years since the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 181, only one of the two States has enjoyed independence and full membership to the UN, while the other – the State of Palestine – continues to be denied its independence and full membership to the UN. For more than seven decades, the Palestinians have been systematically dispossessed of their rights, land, property and dignity through Israel’s illegal and brutal occupation.
- It is time to end this historic and gross injustice.
Thank you, Co-Chairs.
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