Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS YOLINDA CHAN, COUNSELLOR, FIJI PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE GENERAL SEGMENT OF ECOSOC, ON THE REPORT PREPARED BY THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS OF THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION ON THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM, AND THE ARAB POPULATION IN THE OCCUPIED SYRIAN GOLAN (Geneva, Switzerland, 19 July 2013)

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China wishes to acknowledge and record its appreciation for the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, which is submitted in compliance with the resolutions of the Assembly and the Council.

As highlighted by the report, the prolonged Israeli occupation violated United Nations resolutions and international law, and should not be allowed to persist with impunity. The establishment of the settlements on occupied territories is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Convention IV of 1907. As a result of this illegal occupation, the economic growth in the occupied State of Palestine continues to be unsustainable and restrained by the policies of the Israeli occupation, namely persistent restrictions on movement and access.

At a juncture such as this when the occupation results in adverse socioeconomic ramifications and increased suffering for the Palestinian people and Syrian citizens, it is timely that the international community exert all efforts and to take appropriate measures to ensure the implementation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We may also wish to remember Article 62 of the Charter of the United Nations, which tells us that the Economic and Social Council may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Equal rights, self-determination, universal peace, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all: these are foundation stones of the United Nations.

Mr. President,

It is in this spirit that the Group of 77 and China reiterates the need for international support for effective initiatives that seek to end the sufferings and towards improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan.

I thank you.