UN / MIDDLE EAST

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told the Security Council that without a credible political horizon the 1993 Oslo Israeli - Palestinian peace accords could be “in real jeopardy.”  He expressed support for intra-Palestinian reconciliation but noted that this future Government must "abide by the PLO commitments of recognition of Israel, non-violence, and adherence to previous agreements.” UNIFEED - UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:41
• Production Date: 20 May 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 1024720

Description

STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 1.41
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 MAY 2014, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

20 MAY 2014, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegate
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“Political efforts towards a negotiated two-State solution have reached an impasse. It is important that international efforts continue to create the conditions for the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“Without a credible political horizon, we risk putting the Oslo paradigm in real jeopardy. Yet, we cannot rush the parties back to the table without the proper parameters in place. The current pause in the talks allows for both parties to consider their next steps, developing on the intensive engagement by the US over the past nine months.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations:
“The United Nations continues to support intra-Palestinian reconciliation but notes that it is paramount to reiterate to all factions that this future Government abide by the PLO commitments of recognition of Israel, non-violence, and adherence to previous agreements. The EU also reaffirmed its support for the potential national consensus government in their Council’s conclusions, so long as it adheres to the principles of President Abbas’ Cairo speech on 4 May 2011.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. Zoom out, Council

Storyline

A top United Nations official today (20 May) warned that political efforts towards a negotiated two-State solution between Israel and Palestine “have reached an impasse” and called on the international community to continue to create the conditions for the resumption of negotiations.

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told the Security Council that without a credible political horizon the 1993 Oslo accords could be “in real jeopardy.” Yet, he added, “we cannot rush the parties back to the table without the proper parameters in place.”

Taranco said “the current pause in the talks allows for both parties to consider their next steps, developing on the intensive engagement by the US over the past nine months.”

The Assistant Secretary-General told the Council that the United Nations “continues to support intra-Palestinian reconciliation but notes that it is paramount to reiterate to all factions that this future Government abide by the PLO commitments of recognition of Israel, non-violence, and adherence to previous agreements.”

He said the European Union (EU) “also reaffirmed its support for the potential national consensus government in their Council’s conclusions, so long as it adheres to the principles of President Abbas’ Cairo speech on 4 May 2011.”

Taranco informed the Council that on 5 May, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Hamas political leader Meshaal in Doha to discuss detailed aspects of their agreement.