I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing. Let me also express my appreciation to Mr Oren Gian and Ms Malak AbuSoud for sharing their experiences on connecting Israeli and Palestinian youth.
We are encouraged by several positive developments, which will hopefully contribute to reviving the Middle East Peace Process. In addition to the normalization of relations between Israel and certain Arab states, we have also seen thrust in the work of the Middle East Quartet, which held a virtual meeting last week.
We have welcomed the decree by President Abbas on holding legislative, presidential and National Council elections. The recent agreement reached in Cairo between the Palestinian factions on the arrangements of the elections is another positive step towards holding free, fair and inclusive elections, which should take place throughout the occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
Estonia has also welcomed the resumption of civilian and security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. We encourage the parties to build upon these developments and take further practical steps, which will hopefully lead to more favorable conditions for resuming direct negotiations to achieve a two-state solution.
These steps should include further coordinated efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as well as increased economic cooperation. In this context, we welcome the participation of the representatives of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the Ad-hoc Liaison Committee meeting on 23 February.
We call on all parties to refrain from any unilateral steps that increase tensions and undermine the viability of the two-state solution.
We reiterate our call to Israel to halt the continued settlement expansion and demolitions in the occupied Palestinian Territories. The recent demolitions and confiscation of items and structures at Humsa Al-Bqai’a in the Jordan Valley are worrying and contrary to the International Law.
It is also essential to prevent any acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror and acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Estonia’s continued support to all efforts to resume meaningful negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians on all final status issues, based on international law, relevant Security Council resolutions and agreed parameters.