EU Explanation of Vote – United Nations 4th Committee: Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories

Madame Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

We wish to point out that the European Union as a whole has not expressed a legal qualification with regard to the term "forced displacement" used in a number of Resolutions submitted under this item.

Furthermore, the use of the term "Palestine" in any of these resolutions cannot be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue and hence on the question of the validity of an accession to the conventions and treaties mentioned therein.

The EU welcomes the Palestinian Mission's efforts aimed at streamlining the resolutions under agenda item 55, and we encourage the Palestinian Mission to continue such efforts next year. 

I thank you Madame Chair.