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Madame President
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the deepening crisis in Gaza, culminating in the terrible loss of life we have seen over recent weeks. The situation confronting Palestinian civilians is dire, and must be urgently restored.
Despite the kidnapping of Corporal Shalit and the repeated rocket attacks on Israeli territory, we cannot accept the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force we have seen from the Israeli military in response. There is no justification for these violations of international humanitarian law, on one side or the other.
The futile cycle of reciprocal violence currently underway underscores the fact that there is no military solution to this conflict. We call on the parties to take immediate steps to restore stability and to create an environment in which peace is possible. In particular we consider there is an urgent need to restore the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to govern and exert control on its side of the border. We welcome moves to put in place a National Unity Government for the OPT and stress that Israel and the international community must work urgently with the Palestinian Authority to restore access and the flow of resources to the OPT, without which any attempt at effective governance is doomed to failure. We also call for the release of Palestinian officials detained by Israel.
For its part the restored Palestinian Authority must take action to prevent further rocket attacks on Israel as soon as possible, and intervene with the kidnappers of Corporal Shalit to help secure his release.
We hope that such steps will contribute to a stabilisation and truce providing space for a return to calm. Over the longer term a radical change of current attitudes and expectations on the part of both Israel and the Palestinians will be necessary if they are to negotiate a lasting peace.
Thank you Madame President.
