Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, at the UNSC meeting on the Situation in the Middle East - September 28ht, 2022

Mister President,        

As we have just heard from the detailed briefing presented by the Special Coordinator, tensions keep escalation on the ground, especially in the West Bank. The agreed ceasefire is at continuous risk and the situation can easily deteriorate if calm is not restored.  

Last week, the UN General Assembly was formally opened for the 77th time. The question we are addressing today has been on    the agenda of the United Nations since 1947, the 2nd General Assembly, when the two-State solution was first put into paper. So, we wonder: what efforts are we making today, as representatives of the Security Council, to reestablish the path to a much-awaited solution to this long-lasting conflict.  

76 years have passed and Brazil remains convinced that a two-State solution, within the framework of international law and the resolutions of the Council, is still the only way to meet the aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and to ensure the security of all. We welcome the words expressed last week by the Israeli leadership to the General Assembly and hope they will encourage the resumption of negotiations towards “two states for two peoples”.    

In this sense, we agree with the assessment of the Special Coordinator: unless fundamental issues are addressed, the cycle of acute crisis followed by short-term fixes will persist. Concerted efforts are needed to restore a political horizon and resume meaningful negotiations.         

Brazil urges the parties, first of all, to maintain the ceasefire and to exercise maximum restraint. Unilateral actions, including extremist rhetoric, just add fuel to the fire.  Confidence between the parties must be restored for negotiations to flourish.    

All parties must comply with international humanitarian law. Investigations should be conducted to clarify alleged violations and make those responsible accountable. The safety and security of religious sites, an essential component of freedom of religion or belief, should also be preserved. And that means preserving the status quo of holy sites.       

Mister President,        

The Special Representative has recently presented a report on measures that may contribute to strengthening the Palestinian economy and to addressing the challenge of Palestinian governance. 
We should not underestimate the role played by poverty, food insecurity and lack of hope in providing the ground for extremist forces to flourish. Some promising measures have been taken over the past year, particularly easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods into and out of the Gaza Strip.        

Economic growth may also contribute to intra-Palestinian reconciliation, which is also a needed step towards stabilization and resumption of a genuine dialogue. We encourage continuous cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli officials. Collaboration on all matters, including the security sector, can only happen with strengthened Palestinian institutions and a viable Palestinian economy, which, in turn, would help reinvigorate efforts toward the two-State solution.     

Mister President,        

Last week, the Secretary General stated, during his opening speech to the 77th General Assembly, that the funding gap for the Global Humanitarian Appeal is at the widest ever. This does not come as a surprise - we know that global price increases for key commodities have strained the resources of humanitarian agencies. 

Palestinian refugees must not, however, be forgotten amidst the many ongoing humanitarian crises. For as long as it has existed, UNRWA has played an important role in providing relief and assistance to millions, in many countries. In this regard, Brazil echoes the calls for renewed efforts to restore UNRWA’s capabilities as chronic underfunding continues to risk leaving people unassisted.         

In concluding, Brazil would like to, once more, reaffirm its support to the work of the Special Coordinator. We thank Mr. Wennesland for his openness and frankness to this Council and for his tireless engagement with all parties. We also thank the efforts of countries, especially of the region, which have been constantly working to bring some calm and to de-escalate the situation on the ground.