Pakistan urges UNSC to hold Israel responsible for excesses on Palestinians
By Sonita Taylor 'Pakistan Times' UN Special Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan, speaking for Islamic countries has called for holding Israel accountable for the “excessive and disproportionate” use of force against Palestinians in occupied territories, while making a strong case for an independent state for the oppressed people.

“It is high time to ensure respect for the rule of law by putting an end to the impunity enjoyed by Israel,” Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Farukh Amil told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

Speaking in the 15-nation Council’s debate on the Misddle East situation, he called for complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied lands and reaffirmed support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and an independent state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan is the current chairman of the Islamic Group in New York.
Ambassador Farukh Amil said the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) had a strong, direct interest in achieving a just, lasting peace in the Middle East.

The OIC Summit held on March 13 and 14 had reiterated its call on Israel to comply fully with Council resolutions relevant to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.

It had called on Israel to comply with relevant Council resolutions, withdraw completely from the occupied Syrian Golan to the pre-1967 borders and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Expressing concern over the further deterioration of the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip caused by Israel’s military escalation and continuing illegal seizure of that territory, he said similar illegal Israeli actions against civilians in the West Bank, including the construction of new settlements and the wall, only fuelled the cycle of violence, undermined steps by the Palestinian Authority to establish calm and security, and threatened the prospects for peace.

The international community must respond to that by holding Israel responsible for its actions and ending its impunity, the Pakistan envoy said.

Voicing support for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call to investigate incidents in which civilians had been killed or injured, he said the OIC expected follow-up action in that regard.

Amil called on the council to act in a credible, timely and effective manner. It could not remain silent and marginalized as the crisis escalated, undermining international law and the vision of a just, lasting peace.

It was unacceptable for the Council to be deadlocked even on pronouncing itself in response to the violence and the deteriorating situation on the ground.

The Council, he said, must condemn the killing of innocent civilians and take measures to bring about an immediate ceasefire. The Council must also demonstrate the political will to ensure full and non-discriminatory implementation of its own resolutions and respond effectively to non-compliance.

Reclaiming its position as the focal point of international efforts, Amil said urged the council to ensure cessation of all actions by Israel that sought to change realities on the ground and which could prejudice a final settlement, including the construction of the illegal separation wall and the expansion of settlements.

The OIC called on Israel to withdraw completely from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and other occupied Arab lands, he said in conclusion.●