NEW YORK: In a speech to the United Nations Security Council, an official from the Kingdom has slammed Israel for its unwillingness to make peace and stop its continued illegal settlements and killing of Palestinians. The speech was delivered by Omar Bin Ali Al-Aiedi, Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, on behalf of the Arab delegations to the UN, at a session on the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian question. Al-Aiedi said the meeting was taking place at a time when the Israeli government persists in its intransigence and continues its illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. This threatens to undermine the entire peace process and the prospects for a viable future Palestinian state. He said this was making it difficult for any Palestinian government to work effectively or persuade the Palestinians about the possibility of achieving peace. He said there are unethical sanctions imposed on the people living under occupation while the Israelis are not accountable. Al-Aiedi pointed out that peace is the only way to achieve security for Palestinians and Israelis. He added that it was high time for Israel to realize that it cannot continue to exempt itself from complying with international law. Al-Aiedi called on the council to take a unanimous decision to oppose settlement activity. He added that the Arab countries, expressed through the Arab peace initiative launched by the Kingdom and adopted by the Arab summit in Beirut, is based on international law, but has been rejected by the Israelis. He said the freezing of the peace process, the siege on Gaza, subsequent humanitarian disasters and military attacks on the Palestinian people, have resulted in a rise in radicalism and feelings of despair and frustration. He said the Security Council must deal with the growing impression that the international community lacks the seriousness and credibility to tackle the crisis. He said there were double standards being practiced here, including the use of the veto at the council to prevent it carrying out its tasks.
