The Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations called for preventing the Palestinian-Israeli situation from getting completely out of control.

　　Xinhua News Agency, United Nations, August 21st-Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, made a speech at the open meeting of the Security Council on the question of Palestine in the Middle East on the 21st, calling on the international community to make firm political will, effective diplomatic actions and decisive collective efforts to prevent the situation between Palestine and Israel from getting completely out of control and promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.

　　Zhang Jun pointed out that we should resolutely oppose violence and incitement to violence and earnestly safeguard international law. For some time, the high fever on the ground in Palestine and Israel has persisted, negative events have occurred one after another, and the cycle of violence has intensified, causing a large number of civilian casualties. China is deeply concerned about this. China condemns all violence against civilians, the killing and aggression against children, and opposes the excessive use of force by security forces. All parties concerned must maintain calm and restraint, and the occupying party should earnestly fulfill its obligations under international law and effectively ensure the safety of people and property in the occupied territories.

　　Zhang Jun said that the brutal expansion of settlements continued to change the status quo in the occupied territories, which violated international law and Security Council resolutions and further aggravated the confrontation between Palestine and Israel. China strongly urges to stop all settlement activities and curb the growing settler violence. The religious holy places in Jerusalem are related to the religious feelings of believers. We must take a clear-cut stand against irresponsible provocation and incitement, earnestly respect the historical status quo of religious holy places, and respect Jordan’s jurisdiction over the holy places.

　　Zhang Jun said that it is necessary to promote economic development and effectively protect people’s livelihood. China calls on Israel to relax and lift the unreasonable restrictions on the movement of people and goods and land use in the occupied territories, create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank and lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. China calls on the international community to pay attention to and support the needs of the Palestinian economy and people’s livelihood, provide humanitarian assistance and help the Palestinian side alleviate the financial crisis.

　　Zhang Jun stressed the need to honor international commitments and effectively promote the "two-state plan". The international community must put the Palestinian issue at a higher priority on the international agenda. The United Nations and the Security Council must take strong actions to promote the "two-state solution" with a sense of urgency, shoulder the responsibilities entrusted by the Charter of the United Nations, and earnestly safeguard fairness and justice.

　　Zhang Jun said that China welcomes the recent tripartite summit between Egypt, Jordan and Palestine, and supports the convening of a larger, more authoritative and more influential international peace conference to create conditions for the resumption of peace talks. China is willing to continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date and promote lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.