India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu recapitulated that only two-state solution will deliver enduring peace to the people of Israel and Palestine.
He said that this can be only achieved through direct negotiations between both sides on final status issues. Both sides must avoid any unilateral action which could prejudice these final status issues, he added.
On 26 February at the U.N. Security Council meeting on ‘the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question’, he said that New Delhi asserts its support to the Palestinian cause and the establishment of a sovereign and independent state of Palestine living with peace with Israel.
He added that in recent diplomatic meets, India has urged the Special Quartet Envoys to initiate peace talks with Israeli and Palestinian leadership.
While Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-parties, Tor Wennesland told the Council meeting that the global community is focused on helping the parties return to the negotiating table.
The League of Arab States reiterated its support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In a virtual meet on 15 February, the Envoys of the Middle East Quartet — Russia, United States, European Union and United Nations discussed the political developments and all agreed to have such meets on a regular basis.
Naidu said that India is pleased to note that preparations for the Palestinian elections are moving forward. The Cairo agreement between the Palestinian parties on the conduct of parliamentary and presidential elections to abide by the electoral timetable, accept the results of the election and on other election related arrangements is a positive step in the right direction, he added.
He noted that the commitment which is undertaken by all parties to release political detainees will also help build trust between them, India acknowledged Egypt’s efforts in facilitating this agreement. The high percentage of Palestinians, who have registered to vote in the elections, reflects their desire to take part in the democratic process, he added.
Wennesland said the holding of free and fair elections in the Palestinian Territory will help to clear the path for restoring and realising a long sought two-State solution.
He also said that the parliamentary and presidential elections will provide a crucial step towards re-establishing Palestinian national unity and renewing the legitimacy of national institutions, including a democratically elected Legislative Council and Government in Palestine.
However, Naidu added that the opening of Rafah border crossing is a significant development, which will ease the humanitarian and health situation in Gaza.
India has also stressed that the pandemic’s impact on the people of Gaza has been particularly severe due to the fragile health-care infrastructure there. He noted that covid vaccines are being made available for the people of Palestine.
In coming weeks, India is going to send its second batch of medicines and medical equipment as a grant to the people of Palestine, he added. He also said that India will facilitate the vaccines to Palestine.
While on Covid vaccination prospects, Wennesland welcomed the announcement of the Palestinian vaccination strategy and the initial allocation to the Palestinian Ministry of Health of 37,440 doses of vaccines by the COVAX-AMC facility.