Mr President,
Sweden is committed to the peace process, both politically and economically. We support the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including their right to a state of their own. This right can only be fully realized through negotiations, and only through a political process can lasting security in the Middle East be achieved. The foundations for peace are laid down in Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978).
The direction and time-table of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians is agreed in the Declaration of Principles (1993) and the Interim Agreement (1995).
The Hebron Protocol of January 17, 1997, concerning Israeli redeployment in and from Hebron and aspects on the further implementation of the Interim Agreement, constitutes an important step towards strengthening confidence between the parties.
The parties should continue to base their efforts on what has been achieved so far and refrain from measures that can threaten the peace process. In particular, this implies to measures that could
prejudge the outcome of the final status negotiations, including steps that would change the status of the occupied territories. Accordingly, the Government of Israel should reverse its settlement policy.
Sweden has long been deeply concerned about Israeli Government decisions and plans concerning settlements on occupied territory. The most recent decision concerns Cabal Abu Ghneim/Har Homa located on the occupied West Bank in the Jerusalem area.
My Government considers that the construction of such settlements is a grave obstacle to peace, incompatible with the Declaration of Principles and in contravention of international law, notably the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The framework laid down in the Declaration of Principles between the Government of Israel and the PLO should be the blueprint for an irreversible process. The peace efforts by the Government of Israel and the Palestinians must be brought to fruition. All parties have a formidable responsibility to see to it that this endeavour becomes reality.
Peace and stability in the region is an urgent necessity not only to the parties and the region but to the whole international community. We urge the Israeli Government to reconsider its decision on the settlements in Jabal Abu Ghneim/Har Homa and to reverse its settlement policy. This will serve the peace process, the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples and international security.