Mr. President,
We endorse the statement made by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The Cuban delegation regrets that since the last open debate on this issue no progress has been made in favor of the just cause of the Palestinian people. On the contrary, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with unilateral actions such as the withdrawal of financial support from the United States to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East.
It is very regrettable that the Security Council, due to the repeated hindrance of the United States delegation, has even failed to condemn the escalation of violence and the tragic events occurred in the Gaza Strip since 30 March 2018.
The Cuban delegation reiterates its strong rejection of Israel's use of disproportionate and indiscriminate force against Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, including East Jerusalem and particularly the Gaza Strip, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and International Humanitarian Law.
We condemn once again the illegal construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and the demolition or seizure of Palestinian-owned structures. All these measures, coupled with the blockade of the Gaza Strip, violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and undermine the viability of a two-State solution.
We reiterate the call on the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility under the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security. The Council must demand from Israel an immediate end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories and to its aggressive policies and colonizing practices, as well as compliance with the resolutions adopted by the said body on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in particular resolution 2334 (2016).
Mr. President,
We reaffirm our unrestricted support for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the establishment of two States, allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to have an independent and sovereign State on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return for refugees.
We reject the unilateral action of the United States Government to establish its diplomatic representation in the city of Jerusalem, which further exacerbates tensions in the region.
We also reiterate our call to support the proposal made by President Mahmoud Abbas to hold an international peace conference based on agreed benchmarks and terms of reference.
We express to the Palestinian Government and people our unwavering solidarity and support for the admission of Palestine as a fully-fledged member of the United Nations.
We welcome the adoption of General Assembly resolution 73/89, entitled "Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East", which endorsed support for the two-State solution.
Mr. President:
The Cuban delegation once again calls for Israel's total and unconditional withdrawal from the Syrian Golan and all occupied Arab territories.
We recall that any measure or action aimed at modifying the legal, physical and demographic condition and institutional structure of the occupied Syrian Golan, as well as Israel's measures to exercise its jurisdiction and administration in that territory, violate International Law and the Charter of the United Nations.
We demand respect for multilateralism, a halting to interference in internal affairs, foreign aggression and sponsorship of terrorist groups to promote instability and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the fabrication of pretexts and concepts intended to legitimize in this Council the unilateral use of force and aggression against sovereign States.
Thank you very much.