Comments to the media by the Permanent Representatives of the Troika of the Arab Group, and the Troika of the Islamic Group (Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC), regarding the forthcoming Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly. This session is convened to address the pressing issues in East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories.
Ahead of a vote in the General Assembly, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour today (12 Dec) said, “our duty is to try to save the lives who are still alive by having this resolution adopted and by forcing Israel to comply with it. And those who are shielding Israel to comply with the global consensus calling for a ceasefire.”
Talking to reporters outside the Security Council, Mansour stressed that “the subject is urgent,” and added that “the fact that we are meeting on Tuesday after the veto on Friday, it indicates that the situation is dire, and we need action, and we need it as quickly as possible.”
He said it was expected “there might be some amendments from those who are still insisting to politicize the subject.” Speaking on behalf of the Organization of Arab States and Arab Group, whose members flanked him at the podium, he said, “we are determined that we will not allow such amendments to succeed. We will oppose them. We will defeat these amendments.”
“At the end of the day,” Mansour continued, “we believe we will prevail. With almost the entire international community in calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, as the Secretary-General is calling for, as all UN agencies working on the humanitarian field are calling for.”
Commenting on the fact that General Assembly resolutions are not binding for states, he said, “is it binding or not binding? The language that is in it, it's it demands a cease fire. And that is the language that was used in the Security Council. Demanding from anybody from the United Nations, whether the General Assembly or the Security Council. It is much more powerful than calling for, and therefore, it should be looked at as binding in that sense. Definitely, if the great majority of the General Assembly demands an immediate humanitarian cease fire.”
To conclude the Palestinian Ambassador said, “the Palestinian people are so angry and frustrated. And no one should blame them. And if they are upset and angry with all of us and the UN and the international system, no one should blame them.”
The emergency meeting of the General Assembly was called invoking GA Resolution 377 also known as Uniting for Peace resolution.
