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UN / MIDDLE EAST
STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 2.40
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 22 OCTOBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
22 OCTOBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“Despite the welcome intensification of negotiations, there have been worrisome developments on the ground that we cannot ignore. I wish to reiterate the United Nations unequivocal call on all to refrain from violence and incitement, reinforce calm and reverse negative trends in order to preserve the tentative opening in the political process.”
4. Med shot, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“After 20 years of talks and too many negative developments on the ground, we don’t need lengthy negotiations. What we, and the parties, need are decisions, the right decisions, and leaders who are committed to usher in an agreed political solution.”
6. Med shot, Feltman and Security Council President Agshin Mehdiyev
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations:
“Illegal and provocative Israeli actions, whether by the Government, its occupying forces or its extremist settlers, are raising deep doubts about Israel’s true intentions in the negotiations, reinforcing the notion that it is only using this period to further entrench its settlement enterprise and de facto annexation of Palestinian land, while simultaneously attempting to ease international pressure in this regard.”
8. Zoom out, audience
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations:
“Instead of building houses, Hamas is building smuggling tunnels. Instead of building schools, they are building terror networks. This is the reality that Israel has lived with everyday. Instead of using construction materials to build a better future for the Palestinians and the Palestinian people, the leadership in Gaza is committed to destroying the State of Israel.”
10. Med shot, British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms any calls for violence. We are especially concerned about the recent discovery of attach tunnels emanating from Gaza into Israel. In addition we remain concerned about ongoing incidents of violence in the West Bank as well as about recent clashes around holy sites in Jerusalem. We stress the importance of maintaining calm in these sensitive places. We urge restraint on the part of all sides and call upon all parties to avoid taking action that undermines final status negotiations. Following the bold lead of both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, it is essential that we all work to build the trust and confidence necessary for lasting peace.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
The top United Nations political chief today (22 October) called for taking advantage of the opening that now exists with renewed negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians to achieve the long-sought vision of two States living side by side in peace and security.
Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman, in his briefing to the Security Council, warned that “despite the welcome intensification of negotiations, there have been worrisome developments on the ground that we cannot ignore.”
Feltman reiterated the United Nations “unequivocal call on all to refrain from violence and incitement, reinforce calm and reverse negative trends in order to preserve the tentative opening in the political process.”
He cited a number of violent incidents that led to deaths and injuries on both sides; settlement activity; ongoing clashes between Palestinians and settlers; growing provocations at holy sites; and Israeli demolitions.
The Under-Secretary-General said that “after 20 years of talks and too many negative developments on the ground, we don’t need lengthy negotiations,” and added that what is needed are “decisions, the right decisions, and leaders who are committed to usher in an agreed political solution.”
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour, told the Council that “illegal and provocative Israeli actions, whether by the Government, its occupying forces or its extremist settlers, are raising deep doubts about Israel’s true intentions in the negotiations, reinforcing the notion that it is only using this period to further entrench its settlement enterprise and de facto annexation of Palestinian land, while simultaneously attempting to ease international pressure in this regard.”
For his part, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor denounced the building of a tunnel from Gaza into Israel, which he said employed 500 tonnes of concrete meant for housing projects.
Prosor said that “instead of building houses, Hamas is building smuggling tunnels. Instead of building schools, they are building terror networks” and “instead of using construction materials to build a better future for the Palestinians and the Palestinian people, the leadership in Gaza is committed to destroying the State of Israel.”
United States Ambassador Samantha Power told the Council that “the United States condemns in the strongest terms any calls for violence” and urged “restraint on the part of all sides and call upon all parties to avoid taking action that undermines final status negotiations.”
Power said it was “essential that we all work to build the trust and confidence necessary for lasting peace.”
Direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians stalled in September 2010, after Israel refused to extend its freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. Following efforts by United States Secretary of State John Kerry, the two sides resumed negotiations this August.
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