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China Calls for Settlement of Palestine-Israel Conflicts Through Negotiations
China has expressed concern over the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel and has called upon the two sides to deal with their differences through negotiations and dialogue, a Chinese official said Tuesday in Geneva.
"Peace is a long-cherished common aspiration of all people in the world and is also in the interests of Palestine, Israel and other countries in the Middle East," Li Enheng, head of the Chinese delegation, said at a special session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
"China has consistently supported the settlement of differences through negotiations and dialogue," he said. "We strongly urge the related parties to exercise restraint and stop taking actions or making remarks that are detrimental to the peace process."
The sudden visit by the leader of the Israeli opposition party to the controversial Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem triggered the bloodshed, he said. This has also left the Middle East peace process trapped in a deadlock.
"Such irresponsible provocation should be condemned by the international community," Li said." The Chinese government is appalled at the excessive use of force and employment of heavy armaments including helicopters, tanks and missiles, by Israeli military and police against Palestinian civilians and strongly condemns the use of force against civilians."
The Chinese government and its people have always supported the Palestinians in their struggle for restoration of their legitimate national rights and the Middle East peace process, Li said. For many years, China has made unremitting efforts and contributions to the progress in this regard.
During the past sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, the Chinese delegation has always participated in the discussions on the question of Palestine and other occupied Arab land and has co-sponsored relevant resolutions.
China also supports the convening of the current three-day special session in Geneva in hopes of early resolution. China voted for Resolution 1322 of the UN Security Council condemning the use of force by Israel, which has caused many civilian casualties, including women and children.
Li disclosed that the Red Cross Committee of China is going to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestine to help wounded or killed civilians.
Commenting on the ongoing peace talks between Palestine and Israel in the Egyptian town of Sharm El-Sheikh, Li hoped that the two sides would take a flexible and pragmatic approach towards the issue, on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the final settlement of the Palestinian issue and the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, so as to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East region by an early date.
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