Statement by Ambassador Wu Haitao, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN at the Security Council on the Middle East

主席先生，

　　我感谢迪卡洛副秘书长的通报。

　　当前中东地区不稳定、不确定因素明显增多。对于中东地区热点问题，国际社会应坚持政治解决，促进对话谈判，坚持建设性管控局势，坚持照顾各方正当权益。

　　巴勒斯坦问题是中东问题的核心，是中东地区的根源性问题。维护巴勒斯坦人民合法权益是国际社会的共同责任。当前，中东和平进程陷入停滞，煽动性言行频发并有所升级，定居点建设和拆除巴勒斯坦人房屋的行动持续推进，加沙地带人道主义危机深重。中方对此深感忧虑。在此，我愿强调以下几点：

I thank USG DiCarlo for her briefing. The current situation in the Middle East is unstable and uncertainties have visibly increased. For the hot-spot issues in the region, the international community should remain committed to a political solution, promote dialogue and negotiation and take a constructive approach to manage the situation while taking care of the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned. The Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. It is a matter that touches the very root of all that has to do with the Middle East. Upholding the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinian people is the joint responsibility of the international community. At present, the Middle East peace process has been deadlocked while inflammatory words and actions are increasing and even escalating. Construction of settlements and demolition of Palestinian houses have continued and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening. China is deeply worried about this. Here I wish to stress the following points:

　　第一，安理会第2334号决议应得到切实执行。日前发生在耶路撒冷苏尔巴赫尔村的冲突引发国际社会高度关注。有关方面应立即停止拆除巴勒斯坦人房屋，停止毁坏巴勒斯坦人财产，停止在被占领土上的一切定居点活动，采取措施防止针对平民的暴力行为。应立即停止一切旨在实现定居点合法化的法律行为和单方面举措，并采取切实措施消除其影响，避免削弱“两国方案”前景。

First, resolution 2334 should be effectively implemented. The recent clash in the village of Sur Baher in Jerusalem has drawn intense international attention. Parties concerned should immediately stop the demolition of Palestinian houses and destruction of Palestinian property, cease all settlement activities in the occupied territories and take measures to prevent violence against civilians. All legal actions and unilateral initiatives aimed at legalizing settlements must immediately be put to an end and concrete measures should be taken to eliminate their practical effect on the ground so as to avoid weakening the prospect of the two-States solution.

　　第二，应高举多边主义旗帜，坚持公平正义，推动巴勒斯坦问题全面、公正和持久解决。“两国方案”是解决巴以问题的唯一正确出路，“阿拉伯和平倡议”、“土地换和平”等原则和安理会有关决议是化解巴以冲突的根本遵循。国际社会应以此为基础，推动巴以双方早日重启和谈，最终建成以1967年边界为基础、以东耶路撒冷为首都、拥有完全主权的巴勒斯坦国。任何新倡议都应符合上述基本国际准则。对中东地区有重要影响的国家均应发挥建设性作用，为恢复对话创造必要条件。

Second, we must champion multilateralism and uphold fairness and justice in promoting a comprehensive, just and durable solution of the Palestinian question. The two-States solution is the only correct way forward to resolving the question of Palestine and Israel. Principles including the "Arab Peace Initiative" and "Land for Peace" and relevant Council resolutions offer basic parameters for resolving the Palestinian and Israeli conflict which should underpin the international community's efforts to promote an early resumption of negotiations between of the two parties which should lead ultimately to the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Any new initiative must be in line with the above-mentioned international guidelines. Countries that have major influence in the region should play a constructive role and help create necessary conditions for the resumption of the dialogue.