China calls on 'Israel' at UNSC to stop encroaching on Palestine
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China's Deputy Representative at the the UN Security Council, Geng Shuang, reaffirms Beijing's support to the Palestinian people's just cause and to restore their rights and territories according to the 1967 borders.
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Geng Shuang, Deputy Ambassador of China to the United Nations, speaks at a Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation regarding North Korea, Thursday, March 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP)
At the UN Security Council on Wednesday, China's Deputy Representative, Geng Shuang, called on "Israel" to “stop encroaching” on Palestinian territories and resources.
“Since the beginning of this year, Israel has continued to advance unilateral actions on approving returns, building new settlements, and legalizing settlements,” Geng said.
Discussing the Middle Eastern situation, Geng stressed that Israeli settlement-building practices violate international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
The envoy highlighted that “the historical status quo of religious holy sites in Jerusalem [Al-Quds] must be respected and upheld,” adding, “We urge Israel to immediately halt these actions and stop encroaching upon the land and resources of the Palestinian people."
Geng also criticized Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for storming Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second time in 2023, which he considered to have “caused renewed tensions.”
“On the issue of religious holy sites, Israel must stop its provocations, guarantee the right to worship of Muslim worshipers, uphold the peace and tranquility of religious holy sites, and respect the custodianship of Jordan,” Geng emphasized.
Moreover, the Chinese Deputy said that tension between Israelis and Palestinians “have been repeating themselves over the past few years, fully demonstrating that a long-stalled peace process is not sustainable, that piecemeal crisis management will not last, and that a comprehensive and just solution is irreplaceable.”
Geng underlined that "the country with major influence on the parties concerned should make concrete efforts to advance the Middle East peace process and should not unjustifiably prevent the Security Council from arriving at the minimum consensus on the Palestine-Israeli issue," he added.
In conclusion, China's Deputy representative at the UNSC reaffirmed “China will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights, and support the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."
'Israel' should stop all incitements, provocations: China
Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, expressed last January, China's deep worries about the rise of tensions as a result of Ben-Gvir's provocative incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Al-Quds.
Prior to that, Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, for the first time in 2023, protected by a large number of Israeli occupation forces, causing worldwide condemnation and threatening another Intifada.
According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Ben-Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa could trigger the battle early and put the Resistance before a major confrontation.
The move was largely condemned by several states across the world, including Jordan, which recently summoned the Israeli occupation ambassador over the incident.
"China calls for the restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquility at the holy site, and calls on parties concerned to remain calm and restrained to prevent further escalation of tensions," Zhang told the United Nations Security Council during a meeting that was held at the request of China and the United Arab Emirates.
The Chinese envoy stressed that "Israel, in particular, should stop all incitements and provocations, and should refrain from any unilateral action that may lead to the deterioration of the situation."
Read more: China's Peace in West Asia
