19 January 2011 - Statement on the situation in the Middle East - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

Statement by H.E. Gary Quinlan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Security Council regarding the situation in the Middle East, as delivered 19 January 2011

Madame President

Congratulations on the Presidency of the Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Thank you to the outgoing members of the Council. And congratulations to the new members. Australia will, of course, continue to work closely with all members of the Council.

Australia is genuinely committed to peace and security in the Middle East.

We support a just and enduring peace based on a negotiated two-state solution based on the 1967 borders which allows Israel and the future Palestinian state to live side-by-side in peace and security.

As our Foreign Minister said during UNGA 65 Leaders’ Week, all member states should welcome the prospect of both an Israeli and a Palestinian state being represented at UNGA 66 this year. We should all support every serious effort to achieve this.

Australia commends ongoing international efforts to realise peace, including by the Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative.

During his December visit to Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, and Israel, our Foreign Minister. Mr Rudd, underscored to both parties and to regional leaders that now is the time to seize the opportunity for peace.

As he remarked: Time is beginning to run out and what is needed is not just another peace process, but a peace outcome. What is needed is not another roadmap. We need to see the destination to which the road is taking us.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders need to return to direct talks as a matter of urgency. Both sides must refrain from actions which undermine confidence, including – decisively - the construction of settlements.

Australia unambiguously opposes new Israeli settlements. They are illegal. They are not only an obstacle to peace - they actually undermine the prospects for achieving peace. They compromise the future of a two-state solution. They must stop.

We agree with the Quartet in its Statement of 21 September that Israel’s previous moratorium on settlements had a positive impact. In our view, a cessation of settlement activity would – unquestionably – assist peace efforts.

Madame President

Australia is serious about its support for a two-state solution. We will continue – and increase- our support for the practical establishment on the ground of a viable Palestinian State.

We have already provided almost $70 million dollars in direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority. And Foreign Minister Rudd announced in Ramallah in December that Australia will develop a five-year development partnership with the Palestinian Authority that will include regular budget support and the provision of scholarships focusing on those disciplines critical to institution building.

This multi-year agreement – the starting point for an enhanced development partnership - is the first of its kind by a development partner with the Palestinian Authority and reflects Australia's recognition that an independent, viable Palestinian state requires predictable funding to plan ahead and to budget for the provision of the services that any functioning state must be able to provide to its citizens.

Australia also announced in December, support of A$18 million over three years to the core budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East -– the first multi-year commitment, rather than annual contribution to the Agency. We have contributed almost $150 million dollars in capacity building and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people since 2007.

Madame President

The situation on the ground in Gaza remains extremely serious. Australia welcomes the relaxation of some Israeli restrictions on access to and from Gaza, and recognises Israel’s legitimate security concerns. But we remain very concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The easing of restrictions already announced must be implemented now. And we urge Israel to ease these restrictions further.

Finally, I must note that Australia remains firm in our support for the sovereignty, independence and unity of the Lebanese state and its people. All parties must play a constructive role and refrain from any actions that might create instability. We encourage the current international efforts to mobilize in support of Lebanon. We call on all parties to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 1757, and to allow it to complete its important work.

To conclude, Madame President

There can be no doubt that the situation between Israel and Palestine is – as was said by the Permanent Observer of Palestine this morning – at a critical juncture and that the prospects for resuming a credible peace process are quickly fading. As one of the Council members reminded us today, it is 20 years since the current peace process was launched in Madrid. We agree very strongly with his comment that this should be the last year of process. All the parties have an historic – and human – obligation to do more than just re-commit to peace. They – and the international community, all of us - need to act to do all we can to achieve peace now.