UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Tuesday urged the UN General Assembly to support draft resolutions which express "grave concern" over Israel's illegal settlement activities and restrictions on Palestinian people.
The statement came as Egyptian Ambassador to the UN Maged Abdelaziz introduced two draft resolutions to the plenary session of the 64th General Assembly session during the debate on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.
"The sponsors of these two draft resolutions believe that the time has come for the international community to deal with the situation of the conflict in the Middle East through a comprehensive approach," Abdelaziz said.
"This can not be achieved without a political will and serious commitment from Israel to realize its full withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories," he said.
In order to achieve this, Abdelaziz said that the sponsors of the draft "look forward to the support of all States members of the General Assembly to vote in favor of these two draft resolutions and support the important goals contained therein, in order to reaffirm the firmness of the international will to achieve the set goals."
"Israel, for its part, will choose the path of peace over any course of conflict," Israeli UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said on Tuesday at the General Assembly debate on the question of Palestine.
She noted that a few days ago, the government of Israel had announced a new policy of settlement restraint which involves a new construction in the West Bank for ten months.
Shalev said that "Israel wants to re-enter into negotiations with the Palestinians," while underscoring that "it is taking painful and effective steps" toward peace and that it is "serious about its intention."
Israeli PM terms settlement freeze "one-time, temporary" move
JERUSALEM, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that a 10-month moratorium on new housing starts in the West Bank settlements was only a "one-time, temporary" move, after it drew scathing criticism from the right in Israel.
After the 10-month period, Israel "will return to building," Netanyahu was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as telling a conference organized by the financial newspaper Calcalist.Full stroy
Israeli defense minister seeks supervisors for settlement freeze
JERUSALEM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered his ministry on Sunday to urgently recruit supervisors to oversee the 10-month construction freeze in West Bank settlements, local daily Ha'aretz reported.
Within two weeks, 40 new supervisors will be trained to begin work in the region and dozens more will be recruited down the line to enforce the construction freeze approved Wednesday by Israeli security cabinet.Full story
Israel's offer on settlement "incomplete step": Egyptian FM
CAIRO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egypt downplayed on Thursday the Israeli decision to temporarily halt settlement with the exception of East Jerusalem, terming the offer as an "incomplete step."
"Israel's unilateral declaration on the cessation of settlement activities in the Palestinian territories is an incomplete step and not compatible with the requirements of achieving peace," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a statement. Full story
Israel's freeze on settlements in the West Bank helpful: U.S.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton on Wednesday welcomed Israel's announcement to start a 10-month West Bank settlement freeze to revive peace talks with Palestinians.
"Today's announcement by the government of Israel helps move forward toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Clinton said in a statement released by the State Department. Full story
Israel announces 10-month West Bank settlement freeze to revive peace talks with Palestinians
JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday evening announced a 10-month freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying the move was in an effort to revive the peace talks with the Palestinians.
"I hope that this decision will help launch meaningful negotiations to reach a historic peace agreement that would finally end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians," Netanyahu said at a special press conference in his Jerusalem office. Full story
Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts
