Statement by

Mr. Ali Hajilari

First Counselor

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations

Under agenda items 64: “Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

and of the Arab population in the Occupied Syrian Golan over their Natural Resources”

New York, 18 October 2021

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Madam Chair,

My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of the Republic of Guinea on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I also wish to thank the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia for its report under this agenda item.

The provided report is extremely alarming as it clearly unveils the Israeli regime’s persistent illegal, unjust and illegitimate practices and policies in violation of the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, humanitarian law and international human rights law vis-à-vis the oppressed Palestinians and Syrian people. It confirms that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and occupied Syrian Golan continues to witness a severe deterioration as a result of the Israeli regime’s prolonged military occupation as well as its illegal policies and practices.

Madam Chair,

With a brief look at the report, we simply find it impossible for Palestinians and Syrians under the occupation of the Israeli regime to be able to take steps towards development, as it is clearly reflected in the conclusion of the report itself.

Based on the report, the Israeli regime’s illegal practices continue to this day in the occupied Palestinian territory. These unlawful practices include the continuation of violence and the use of force, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, destruction and confiscation of property and infrastructure; illegal and aggressive settlement activities along with settler violence; coercive environment and population displacement; killing civilians, including women and children; deprivation of access to natural resources and many more.

Madam Chair,

This is just the tip of iceberg. In this situation, it is almost impossible for the Palestinian people to afford the ability to achieve any sustainable development goals. While we are insisting that no one should be left behind, the report demonstrates that not only will the Palestinian people be left behind, but that they will also never enjoy sustainable development as long as they don't have any sovereignty over their natural resources.

The continuation of the illegal blockade has amounted to collective punishment, which is prohibited by international law. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout compounded the social and economic repercussions of the occupation and thereby resulted in more adverse living conditions for Palestinians.

Madam Chair,

I would also like to take this opportunity to echo some of the concerns reflected in the report on the Syrian Golan. The Israeli regime has continued to occupy the Syrian Golan over the past several decades and has illegally exploited the land, water and natural resources in the occupied Syrian Golan. We consider the Golan as an integral part of the Syrian Arab Republic's territory and condemn, in the strongest possible term, all measures taken by the illegitimate occupying regime to undermine the territorial integrity of Syria.

Madam Chair,

Let me conclude by reasserting Iran’s unwavering support for the legitimate and sacred quest of our Palestinian and Syrian brothers and sisters for the full realization of their inalienable rights and appeal to the international community for its continued provision of political and economic support for them in their struggle against occupation of their ancestral lands.

Thank you Madam Chair.