I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland and Mr Paulsen for their briefings.
Estonia calls for active engagement of this Council, the members of the Middle East Quartet and the countries in the region for creating favourable conditions for the resumption of direct meaningful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Finding a long lasting solution to this conflict is in the interest of the whole region and beyond.
We remain commited to supporting a two-State solution, based on international law, relevant Security Council resolutions and internationally agreed parameters.
I would like to encourage the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue practical steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation and rebuild mutual trust and confidence. We welcome the cooperation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and urge the parties for further coordinated efforts, ensuring increased provision of vaccine to the Palestinians.
We also reiterate our call on all parties to refrain from any unilateral steps that undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
We call on Israel to halt the continued settlement expansion and demolitions in the occupied Palestinian Territories, as they are contrary to international law. We are concerned by the Israeli authorities’ plans for the construction of settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including in Har Homa. It is also worrying that the demolishing and confiscation of Palestinian structures and properties by Israel is continuing at a growing pace.
We repeat our call for preventing all acts of violence against civilians, acts of terror, incitement and acts of provocation. Despite the relative calm between Israel and Gaza, there can be no justification for the continued occasional launching of rockets and incendiary devices towards Israel or any other form of violence targeting civilian population.
We welcome the continued engagement of the Palestinian factions to prepare for the upcoming legislative, presidential and National Council elections. We call upon the Palestinian factions to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections and to commit to democratic principles.
We call on the Israeli authorities to facilitate the holding of elections with the participation of international observers across all the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in line with the Oslo Accords.
Finally, I would like to reiterate the important role of UNRWA for the stability of the region. We welcome the US announcement on the resumption of funding to the agency and encourage other donors to restore or, if possible, increase their contributions as well.
I would like to state that Estonia aligns itself with the statement submitted by the European Union.
