Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon chaired today’s UN Security Council briefing on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The debate on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 focused primarily on the issue of laying the groundwork for a future two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

“Almost a year into the war, the devastation and immense suffering of civilians continue with no end in sight. Despite that I continue to embrace hope, just like the mothers I spoke to in Ljubljana in March. Firstly, we need compliance with international law. Since day one of this conflict, we have called for compliance with international law. Secondly, we need respect. More respect for the prevailing sentiment of the wider UN membership which demands a ceasefire, and a just and lasting peace. Thirdly, we need courage. Courage to uphold our commitment to a two-state solution, which remains the only path to lasting peace. I say this as the Foreign Minister of a country that has advocated for peace in this conflict, a country that has recognised the State of Palestine, and I urge others to follow suit. Slovenia has decided to play an active role in this Council and to deliver on the promise of its campaign: building trust and securing future. Lastly, we need diplomacy. We need diplomacy to achieve a ceasefire. I imagine a mother in Gaza beaming with joy because her child can go to school again. I imagine a mother in Tel Aviv not having to teach her child how to use a shelter. I imagine a mother in Jenin not worrying about whether her child will be detained. This is the future I dream of – a future where peace is not just a possibility, but a reality. The first step towards this reality is an immediate ceasefire,” stressed Minister Fajon during the debate.

Recalling the flagrant disregard of Security Council resolutions and the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice, she warned that such violations weaken the credibility of our institutions and undermine global trust. “In the shadow of the appalling situation in Gaza, settlement policy and expansion has accelerated to unprecedented levels, settler violence is on the rise and the situation in the West Bank has reached boiling point. Negative trends must be countered with positive and concrete steps. I therefore warmly welcome the GA’s adoption of a resolution following the ICJ Advisory Opinion, which outlines tangible steps towards a blueprint for peace. It is now time for the Council to follow suit,” she added.

The Council was briefed by Helen Clark, former head of UNDP and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, representing The Elders, an informal group of eminent global public figures founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, and Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Wennesland reported on the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including worrying trends in settlement expansion. He presented a detailed report on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2334 on settlements and inflammatory rhetoric, and steps towards peace and a two-state solution. Clark proposed a set of guiding principles for sustainable peace, including UN membership and recognition of the State of Palestine, normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab states, security for Palestinians and Israelis, and a single, unified government overseeing Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem with an empowered Palestine Liberation Organisation.

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