UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 23 April 2008 -- The conflict between Israel and Palestine has shown an increase fighting over recent months, particularly in Gaza, with casualties mounting on both sides, including children. However, in this atmosphere, the Israelis and Palestinians have been meeting in the most serious talks in many years.

These negotiations are the most important in eight years and the first such discussions between the two countries since talks were interrupted in 2000. Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Angela Kane was cautiously optimistic about the future of the discussion in her address to the Security Council. She said that, “the significance of this should not be underestimated, but neither should the grave risks to the process be overlooked.”

Ms. Kane also emphasized the difficult situation in Palestine and the impact of the current upturn in violence. Fuel shortages in Gaza have had wide-ranging implications including electricity outages, reduced water delivery, and sewage dumping. The work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has also been negatively impacted and aid almost brought to a standstill. Israel has eliminated some of the barriers to bringing fuel and supplies into Gaza but many remain.

Ms. Kane emphasized that Palestinians in Gaza have “witnessed heightened humanitarian distress, while conditions in the West Bank including East Jerusalem have not significantly improved despite continuing efforts.” Yesterday, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East (UNSCO) said that humanitarian organizations in the region would be meeting soon to determine how to address the difficult conditions prevailing in Gaza.

The ongoing talks between Israel and Palestine complement the Annapolis process begun last fall. Next month the UN, European Union, United States and Russian Federation will meet in London to support the Annapolis effort and the Secretary General continues to back efforts to sustain “the political process, encourage action to meet commitments and improve conditions on the ground, and address the grave humanitarian, political and security situation in and around Gaza.”

The current negotiations are a hopeful sign for peace between Israel and Palestine. However, the UN remains concerned about the fighting between the two sides and Assistant-Secretary-General Angela Kane said that she and her colleagues remain “deeply alarmed at the prospects of a further intensification of violence, given the terrible implications for civilians and the threat such conflict would pose to the security of all parties– the Palestinians, Israel and Egypt.”

--Caroline Patton

Labels: United Nations, U.N.

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