NEW YORK: The international community must pressure Israel to bring it to the negotiating table over the Gaza war, Oman’s foreign minister told the 80th UN General Assembly on Saturday.
The Palestinian issue is “deeply painful and enduring,” Badr Al-Busaidi said, calling for it to “take precedence in our deliberations and decisions.”
It is the foremost matter among a “broad spectrum of critical issues that weigh heavily on the human conscience” of the world, he added.
“For too long this conflict has persisted, the suffering has grown unbearable, and the time has come to end the occupation, to undo the injustice, and to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people through the implementation of the two-state solution.”
Growing global recognition of Palestinian statehood is “the most crucial step” in the Palestinian cause, Al-Busaidi said.
He praised the countries that recognized Palestine over the past week, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia.
Though the UN “embodies our collective commitment to working together for peace and to settle conflicts through dialogue and peaceful and legal means,” Al-Busaidi said, “Israel continues to disregard international appeals, refusing to engage in a serious dialogue that would lead to a just and comprehensive solution” to the Palestinian question.
“Its continued use of force and disregard for reason threaten the credibility of the international system,” he added.
“It’s our shared responsibility to intensify our efforts and to apply effective pressure to bring Israel to the negotiating table, and to make it clear that the path to peace can’t be forged through dictation or the imposition of a fait accompli, but rather through mutual understanding and respect for international law and the rights of peoples.”
The international community must adopt measures against Israel’s policies of “genocide, destruction and illegal occupation,” he said.
Al-Busaidi highlighted his country’s support of Qatar in the wake of Israeli strikes on its capital Doha earlier this month. He also condemned Israeli attacks on Iran, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.
“We call for imposing sanctions on Israel in response to its blatant violations of international law and its unlawful encroachments on the sovereignty of states.”
Oman has served as the principal mediator in negotiations between the US and Iran, and the sultanate hopes to play a key role in promoting international peace and security, Al-Busaidi said.
“The world today is undergoing one of the most complex and difficult periods in modern history, marked by unprecedented convergence of global political, economic and humanitarian crises,” he added.
“Amid critical circumstances, the international community is clearly unable to make decisive and effective decisions that could help de-escalate conflicts, alleviate human suffering, or address crises from a just and comprehensive perspective.”
However, the “current moment” offers a “real opportunity” to pursue international justice and fairness through the renewal of collective action, Al-Busaidi said.
“This is the path toward realizing the aspirations of peoples for freedom, prosperity and a just, stable and prosperous future.”
