The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People convenes the UN African Meeting on the Question of Palestine in Rabat, Morocco, at the conference centre of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, from 1 to 2 July. The theme of the meeting is "Strengthening the support by African States for a just and lasting solution of the question of Jerusalem". Participants in the meeting include UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Bader Al-Dafa representing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Head of Delegation, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Zahir Tanin; and Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala).
In his speech, delivered by Al-Dafa, UN Secretary-General stressed the need for all parties to refrain from provocation, especially since coming months will be critical for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and for "determining whether we can move to direct negotiations with more positive actions on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem."
On Gaza, Ban said "The goal must be an end to the blockade so that humanitarian assistance, commercial goods and persons can flow through functioning land crossings. The United Nations will closely monitor developments, and will insist that the change in approach delivers real change on the ground." "We must work together to meet the enormous needs in Gaza, while addressing all other issues cited in Security Council resolution 1860," he added.
The UN Secretary-General expressed concern "about the situation in Jerusalem, where provocative announcements on new settlement construction continue to undermine trust and cause unrest. Settlement construction should stop, as should measures which discriminate against Palestinian residents of the city and the ability of Palestinians to access the city."
He went on to note that hundreds of checkpoints and other obstacles continue to deprive Palestinian residents of access to their land, hospitals and schools, and stifle economic activity, welcoming in this regard the reduction of obstacles to movement and the progress on this point. Ban stressed as well that as Secretary-General of the United Nations, he will "continue to work to bring an end to the 1967 occupation and to the conflict, and to help achieve a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict."
Participants in the meeting will discuss the current status of Jerusalem, including the religious and cultural significance of the Holy City, and its status in international law and United Nations resolutions. The meeting will consider the question of Jerusalem in the context of the permanent status negotiations. Participants in the meeting will also look into the importance of building an international consensus on a just and viable solution of the question of Jerusalem and the role of African States and other actors in that regard.
The objective of the meeting, at this time of intensified efforts at resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, is to promote broad international support, including by African States, for a solution of the conflict based on a shared vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People aims at activating the rights of the Palestinian people, spreading global awareness of the Palestine issue, and reaching a peaceful settlement for it. It holds meetings worldwide on these matters and for this end.
