World support for Israeli-Palestinian peace more vital than ever, Security Council told

International support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is more vital than ever since, despite renewed hopes for progress, there is a sense that setbacks are inevitable, including Israel’s failure to freeze settlement expansion, the top United Nations political officer told the Security Council today.

“I would like to stress here the UN’s concern over Israel’s failure thus far to dismantle settlement outposts and freeze settlement expansion,” Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast said in his latest monthly briefing, citing reports of a Government decision to build at least 3,500 new housing units this year in Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem.

“The Road Map states clearly that Israel should dismantle outposts and freeze settlement activity, and the Quartet position is that neither party should undertake actions that threaten to prejudge final status talks,” he added of the peace plan sponsored by the Middle East diplomatic Quartet – the UN, European Union, Russia and the United States. The plan calls for parallel and reciprocal steps by both sides leading to two States living in peace, originally by the end of 2005.

“We believe that a halt to such action is needed now, to preserve hope for a viable future for the Palestinian people,” Mr. Prendergast declared.

He said Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who visited the region last week, strongly believes that active support and encouragement from the Quartet and the international community are more essential than ever.

He noted that in talks Mr. Annan had with the leaders of both sides, the Israelis emphasized their overriding concern that the Palestinian Authority bring to justice those who perpetrate terrorist acts, while the Palestinians stressed the need for Israel to ease the closures that cause suffering in the occupied territory.

“The respective presentations by the parties impressed on the Secretary-General the immediate and pressing need to rebuild trust and restore confidence. He urged the parties to engage in direct dialogue and negotiations. Peace processes, he warned, cannot afford stagnation,” Mr. Prendergast added.

He said Mr. Annan had stressed that Israel’s proposed withdrawal from Gaza was not an end in itself but an important step in a broader process and should be consistent with the Road Map, noting that Palestinian leaders fear it might become “Gaza First and Gaza Last.”

He called on Israel to abide by its legal obligations and find alternative ways to address its legitimate security concerns other than the barrier it is building on occupied land in the West Bank, which was declared illegal in an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that called for it to be torn down.

“There are many obstacles and challenges. But the deadlock has been broken,” he said in summing up the changes since last month’s summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with the Palestinians vowing to stop acts of violence and Israel pledging to cease military activities.

“It goes without saying that continuation of the current process remains primarily the responsibility of the parties. But we, the international community, should stand ready to assist them along the stony path from violence and terror, bloodshed and suffering towards a better life of peace and security.”