Malaysia Urges Palestine Recognition, Full UN Membership - Permanent Rep

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called on all nations to urgently recognise the State of Palestine and support its full membership in the United Nations (UN), stressing at a landmark UN meeting on Palestine that such recognition is vital to safeguarding the two-state solution.

Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the UN Datuk Dr Ahmad Faisal Muhamad, speaking at the UN High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine on Wednesday, said Malaysia commended countries that have made the bold decision to recognise the State of Palestine, and urged others that have not to do so urgently.

"The recognition of the State of Palestine is a crucial step to protect the two-state solution,” he said.

Ahmad Faisal drove home the point that the two-state solution is, and remains, the only internationally recognised solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“It is totally unacceptable that 78 years since the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 181, only one of the two states has enjoyed independence and full membership to the UN, while the other – the State of Palestine – continues to be denied its independence and full membership of the UN,” he said.

He said that for more than seven decades, Palestinians have been systematically dispossessed of their rights, land, property and dignity through Israel’s illegal and brutal occupation.

“It is time to end this historic and gross injustice,” he said.

Ahmad Faisal said a fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine can only be meaningful if its authorities are able to exercise full control over its territories and natural resources, and thrive economically.

He said Malaysia supports a UN-mandated transition plan, with the concurrence of the State of Palestine, in the form of a peacekeeping operation, a stabilisation mission or a protection mission.

The mandate of such a mission must include, among other elements, monitoring the implementation of a ceasefire and Israel’s full withdrawal from Palestinian territories, as well as ensuring the overall security and protection of civilians, he said.

“Malaysia stands ready to contribute peacekeeping personnel to support such a mission,” he said.

He further reaffirmed support for the Arab-OIC Reconstruction Plan and offered Malaysia's technical cooperation and capacity-building programmes to strengthen Palestinian state institutions.

 As the Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), he said Malaysia would continue to work closely with other committee members to advocate for the recognition of the State of Palestine and its full membership in the UN.

Ahmad Faisal renewed Malaysia’s call for the international community to take all necessary steps not to support, but rather to end Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands, which has been deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.

“We must categorically oppose forced displacement of Palestinians or any attempt to change the demographics of the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” he said.

He also called for a robust sanctions framework banning the supply of arms, munitions and equipment that enable Israel to further entrench its occupation, and urged that sanctions be expanded to cover individuals inciting violence, illegal settlers, as well as organisations and businesses profiting from the illegal settlements.

Another tangible step that can be taken by member states to reject Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands is to emulate Malaysia’s action by banning Israeli-flagged ships and ships bound for Israel from docking in their ports, he said.

To drive home its commitment to justice, Malaysia, which had participated in proceedings at the International Court of Justice aimed at protecting the Palestinian people, stands ready to participate in future legal processes to ensure accountability, end Israel’s impunity and attain justice for the Palestinian cause, he said.

Ahmad Faisal said Malaysia condemned efforts to dismantle the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and discredit UN officials, and pledged Malaysia's continued financial support to the UN agency, including consideration of a multi-year funding agreement.

The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, held on July 28-30, brought together senior officials from nearly 130 countries and ended with the adoption of the "New York Call" and "New York Declaration" in support of the two-state solution.

The United States (US) and Israel did not attend.

-- BERNAMA