Ambassador Bui The Giang raised deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, unabated clashes between Israeli settlers and local Palestinians as well as Israel’s defiant pursuit of the Separation Wall and military incursions against the West Bank.

“We are particularly dismayed at Israel’s recent intolerable decision to expand Gilo settlement built on the occupied East Jerusalem”, said the Vietnamese diplomat. “Over the past month, despite continued international and regional diplomatic efforts, negotiations between the parties have not been resumed due to little progress on the ground.”

He called on Israel to put an end to the so-called natural growth of settlements, open all border crossings, release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention centres and refrain from any other unilateral policy or action that may undermine the peace process.

“We share the concerns about the possible postponement of the presidential and legislative elections in Palestine scheduled for next January,” Ambassador Giang said.

He urged the Palestinian parties to continue with the national reconciliation and unity process aimed at forming a national unity Government and preparing for future statehood.

“We call for concrete and sustained efforts by both Israel and Palestine to abide by international humanitarian and human rights laws, and follow up with national investigations on the violations as recommended by the Goldstone Report,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.

He noted that the Road Map, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Madrid terms of reference and relevant Security Council Resolutions remained the best possible framework for the parties to realize the common goal of a Middle East at peace and a two-State solution.

In regard to Lebanon , Ambassador Giang reiterated concerns over the resumption of fires between southern Lebanon and Israel and supported related investigations. He called on all Lebanese parties to rise above partisan interests and jointly shoulder the national agenda of peace consolidation, reconciliation and reconstruction.

“We demand that Israel immediately and unconditionally cease all violations of Lebanese independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,”  he said, adding that Vietnam supports the presence of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and full implementation of Resolution 1701 (that aims to resolve the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict)”, concluded the Vietnamese ambassador.

VNA