Malaysia's UN representative urges member states to resist pressure threatening Middle East peace

SHAH ALAM - Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad said all member states should not succumb to the pressure exerted by those who seek to undermine peace in the Middle East.

He called on all member states to be united and support the effors towards lasting peace in the Middle East, including the effort for Palestine to become a full member of the UN.

"We shall not and must not succumb to the pressure of those who seek to undermine peace in the Middle East.

"The full membership of the State of Palestine of the UN is a critical step towards this end," he said during the 51st plenary meeting of the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Recently, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan pulled out a paper shredder at the podium of the General Assembly and shredded a copy of the UN Charter to protest a resolution in support of Palestinian membership.

In response to the action, Faisal said, ironically it was Israel's credibility that was shredded to pieces.

"The offensive gimmick of shredding the UN Charter we witnessed in this chamber last Friday is just another example of Israel's utter disrespect of the UN.

"Ironically it was Israel's credibility that was shredded to pieces through the contempt of international law.

"No cheap theatrics will ever deny the resounding support for the resolution, as well as the enduring relevance of the Charter's principles and aspirations," he added.

He said assertions that Palestine has not met the criteria for membership set fourth in Article 4 of the UN Charter were absurd and quite suspicious.

Such allegations, he was were blatant rejection of the General Assembly and Security Council resolutions that have recognised Palestine as a state.

"To date, 144 UN members have recognised the state of Palestine and several countries have announced their intention to recognise Palestine in the very near future.

"We encourage those who have not officially recognise Palestine to do so without further delay," he said.

He said Malaysia shared the view that Palestine met all four criteria for statehood outlined in the 1933 Montevideo Convention and also firmly believed that Palestine fulfilled the conditions for membership to the UN as laid out in Article 4 of the Charter.

"Palestine has consistently demonstrated that it is committed to peace even as Israel persists with its brutal and oppressive occupation, continues to erode its territorial integrity and attempts to annihilate the Palestinian people.

"It is also clear to us that Palestine highly values the opportunities to participate in UN processes and it is able and willing to carry out obligations enshrined in the Charter.

"Palestine has beyond doubt proven itself worthy of membership of this organisation.

"In contrast, Israel continues to breach international law, defy UN resolutions, as well as vilify and malign the UN and its officials," he said.

Faisal called for the carnage in Gaza to be stopped and urged the international community to demand proper accountability processes starting with thorough, transparent and independent international investigations on all breaches of international law, including possible acts of war crime and genocide in Gaza.

He stressed that the fundamental UN founding principle of equality among nations must also be extended to Palestine.

As the representative of Malaysia, he said Malaysia was prepared to be part of and support initiatives aimed at realising the inalienable right of Palestinians to freedom and self-determination.

The UNGA voted 143-9 in favour of expanding the rights of Palestine.

Twenty-five nations abstained from voting, while nine nations, including Israel and the United States, voted against.

The resolution urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to reassess the issue of Palestinian membership in a positive light.

In April, a proposal for Palestinian membership was unsuccessful at the UNSC and the US cautioned that it will use its veto power to block the proposal if it came up for a vote again.