India has expressed concern over the downward trend in Middle East Peace Process, saying unilateral actions by parties involved are moving them further apart, as it criticised the UN Security Council for being a “standby witness” to the “unsettled issue.”
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, participating in a Security Council session on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said the powerful 15-member UN body has “at best been a standby witness to phases of escalation and relative calm which has become characteristic of this unsettled issue.”
“The effectiveness of the Council has consequently been brought into question. We join others in urging the Council to step up its efforts and take the lead in resolving this problem,” he said on Thursday.
A year after the unfortunate Gaza conflict last year, Mukerji said India is “particularly worried” that since then there has been a downward trend in the peace process despite efforts for serious negotiations between the parties.
“Unilateral actions by the <g data-gr-id="22">parties unfortunately</g> are moving them further apart. India remains firmly convinced that dialogue remains the only viable option that can effectively address the issue,” he said adding that the imperative need is for restraint, to avoid provocation and unilateral actions and to return to the peace process. “We remain hopeful and urge both sides to resume the peace process soon, for a comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue,” he said.