Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, at the UNSC Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question - April 25th, 2022

Madam President,

I would like to begin by thanking Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing, as well as for his office’s tireless efforts towards de-escalation.

It has been less than a week since this Council last met to discuss the situation in Jerusalem. The situation on the ground was already extremely serious then, and has deteriorated further. In the days following our meeting, we have seen renewed violence, including in and around holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as in Gaza and elsewhere.

It makes it even more regrettable that the escalation is happening during a period of religious celebrations for the three major monotheistic faiths, a time to practice peace, tolerance and self-reflection.

The scenes we have witnessed over the last few weeks are shocking and unacceptable. Places of worship should not be battlegrounds, especially a place of such religious significance as the holy esplanade. The safety and security of religious sites is an essential component of freedom of religion or belief, and should be preserved at all costs. We recall, in this context, initiatives such as the 2019 Secretary General's Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites and the 2020 Declaration on Safe Places of Worship of the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Alliance.

Madam President,

The confrontations of May 2021 in Gaza resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, thousands of injuries and the widespread destruction of infrastructure. Slowly and with great effort from the UN, regional partners and from the parties themselves, a measure of stability had been reestablished. The sporadic launching of rockets from Gaza over the last few days, which we thoroughly condemn - stands as a reminder of the risk of returning to 2021, of losing more civilian lives and any progress made since then.

The ongoing violence and provocations are a costly setback, another one in a long line of incidents that obstruct the search for a lasting peace. Refraining from incitement and inflammatory rhetoric is of utmost importance at this juncture. Thus, we call not only for restraint from political, religious and community leaders, but also for proactive engagement towards de-escalation.

Most importantly, we urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to engage with each other, be it directly or through the mediation instruments offered by the UN and by regional partners. Measures taken to prevent acts of provocation are also essential. In this context, we welcome the engagement of Israeli authorities with parties on the ground to ease tensions as well as Israeli assurances regarding the enduring historical and legal status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, which must indeed be preserved. As custodian of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is also an important partner in bringing this crisis to an end.

Amid this tense escalation, Christian holy sites in Jerusalem must be kept safe and open for worship.

Bringing the violence to an end and returning to a credible political process is a priority shared by all, and the international community should use all means available to it in support of de-escalation.

The current crisis is the result of years of frustration with the lack of progress in finding a lasting solution to the conflict. A solution that seems even more distant when dialogue breaks down and parties take unilateral actions. Bringing the violence to an end and returning to a credible political process, within the framework of a negotiated two-state solution is a priority shared by all, and the international community should spare no effort to support it.

Thank you