Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) Organizational Meeting

[February 8, 2022]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

------

I thank the Secretary-General for his gracious presence at the organisation meeting of the Committee.

I congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, and the Vice-Chairs of the Bureau for your re-election for the 2022 term. I wish you success in your respective roles and assure you of India’s support in implementing the Program of Work, which has just been adopted by the Committee.

Let me, at the outset, reiterate India’s firm and unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Palestine issue. India has supported a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel. India’s developmental partnership with the Palestinian Authority in its nation-building efforts and our financial assistance to UNRWA are a reflection of the same.

We remain deeply concerned by recent developments in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza. Violent attacks on civilians have been increasing. Acts of destruction and provocation are continuing. New settlement units are being announced.

Resolution 2334 calls upon parties to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, stresses that all settlement activities must cease, and underscores the need to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations on all final status issues. Unilateral measures that unduly alter the status-quo on the ground, undercut the viability of the two-state solution and pose serious challenges to the resumption of peace talks must be eschewed.

Let me also reiterate that the international community must send a strong signal against any step that would prevent the possibility of durable peace between Israel and Palestine in the near future and encourage the parties to focus on constructive measures, which can pave the way for early resumption of direct negotiations on all final status issues. India has consistently called for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine based on the internationally agreed framework, taking into account legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for Statehood and Israel’s legitimate security concerns.

As a member of this Committee, India will continue to support all efforts towards achieving a comprehensive and lasting two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stands ready to contribute constructively to such efforts.

Thank you.