Kuwait says Israeli settlements illegal
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NEW YORK, Dec 19, (KUNA): The State of Kuwait affirmed, late Wednesday, that Israeli settlements were in stark violation of international law and were hindering any vision for peace in the Middle East.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on the prospects for a two-State resolution between Israelis and Palestinians, Kuwait’s Permanent Delegate to the UN Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi called for more frequent written reports on the implementation of the 2016 Council resolution 2334, concerning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.
He also urged other countries to remain neutral and not take unilateral measures to support Israel’s illegal measures and the continuation of the occupation.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi said the latest report shows that Israel, the occupying Power, shows no heed to the Security Council by continuing to expand settlements and allowing violence against Palestinians.
He condemned such activity in the strongest terms and reaffirmed that such settlements have no legitimacy.
Peace would not be achieved, if the parties did not abide by previous agreements. Other countries must remain neutral to encourage such peace and not take unilateral measures to support Israel’s illegal measures and the continuation of the occupation.
He reaffirmed the Arab position, which stipulated that peace was contingent on establishing a Palestinian State based on pre1967 borders.
The UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov has demanded Israel to immediately stop illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In his briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Mladenov pointed out that in the past three years Israel had announced plans for building over 22,000 units in the occupied West Bank.
Settlements must cease immediately and completely. Continued seizures of Palestinian structures, including internationally funded humanitarian projects, must also stop, and affected populations must be compensated, he stressed.
ABU DHABI, Dec 19, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Cooperation Mashari Al-Nibari affirmed Wednesday his country’s support for international efforts to combat terrorism, empowering youth and promoting tolerance.
In a speech delivered before the regional conference (empowering youth and promoting tolerance), Al-Nibari noted that Kuwait issued legislations and laws to combat violent extremism and spent strong efforts to show values of tolerance and encourage youth to participate positively in society.
He stressed the need to activate the role of youth and empower them in setting strategies aimed at countering terrorism.
Al-Nibari pointed out the importance of concerted efforts in spreading a culture of tolerance and moderation to preserve international peace and security, especially in the Middle East and North Africa region.