More than ever before, our
world is confronting multiple global crises which
cannot be effectively addressed without a coordinated,
multilateral action. No country can face these crises
and provide for its future in isolation. The threats are
global, and so are the solutions. A strong, central role
for the United Nations is essential.
It is also essential to resist forces of division that
spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially
among peoples of different religions. The fact is that
humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by
mutual interests, but by shared commandments: to love
God and neighbour; to love the good and neighbour.
This week, my delegation, with the support of our
friends on every continent, will introduce a draft
resolution for an annual World Interfaith Harmony
Week. What we propose is a special week during which
the world’s people, in their own places of worship,
could express the teachings of their own faith about
tolerance, respect for the other, and peace. I hope that
the draft resolution will have the Assembly’s support.
Another critical area for United Nations
leadership is peace — and one peace hangs in the
balance today. With direct negotiations between the
Palestinians and the Israelis, a door opens to a final,
two-State settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
And the establishment of an independent, viable and
sovereign Palestinian State, living side by side with
Israel, will pave the way for a comprehensive regional
peace. An end to this conflict is long overdue.
No regional crisis has had a longer or broader
impact on global security and stability. No such crisis
has been longer on the United Nations agenda, or has
frustrated peacemakers more. Every resource spent in
this conflict is a resource lost for investing in progress
and prosperity. Every day spent is a day lost to forces
of violence and extremism that threaten all of us in the
region and beyond.
People are wary of disappointment, and spoilers
are doing everything they can to make us fail. We
cannot underestimate the importance of success, or the
painful cost of failure. All of us need to support swift
action, hard choices and real results. The alternative is
more suffering and deeper frustrations, with spreading,
more-vicious warfare. Such a catastrophic scenario will
continue to drag in the whole world, threatening
security and stability far beyond the borders of the
Middle East. To prevent that, the talks must be
approached with commitment, sincerity and courage.
There should be no provocative or unilateral
actions that can derail the negotiations. Instead, the
parties must work hard to produce results, and quickly.
That means addressing all final-status issues, with a
view to ending the occupation and reaching the two-
State solution, the only solution that can work, as soon
as possible. The status quo is simply unacceptable —
enough injustice, enough bloodshed.
Jordan and the rest of the Arab and Muslim world
are committed. In the Arab Peace Initiative, we reach
out to Israel with an unprecedented opportunity for a
comprehensive settlement, a settlement that will enable
Israel to have normal relations with 57 Arab and
Muslim States, one third of the United Nations. Now
we reach out to our fellow members of this United
Nations. All stand to lose if the talks fail; all gain when
peace is achieved. Our global and collective influence
is key. Together we must tip the balance towards peace.