Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, made the statement during a videoconference hosted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 21.

The Vietnamese diplomat outlined that Israeli settlements built in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity. Indeed, they constitute a violation of international law along with breaking UN resolutions.

Ambassador Anh also expressed concern regarding the continuous acts of violence which have occurred recently, urging all parties to practice restraint and not to conduct actions that further complicate the situation and hinder ongoing negotiations and dialogues.

The Vietnamese Ambassador also underscored the country’s support for the two-State solution, with East Jerusalem being the capital of a Palestinian state, in line with international law and various UN resolutions.

During the course of the meeting, Nickolay Mladenov, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, briefed the UNSC on developments occurring in the Middle East, while highlighting the challenges faced in implementing Security Council resolution 2334.

Mladenov noted that Israel is continuing with its plans on settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, adding that half of the settlements are situated deep in the West Bank, in areas that are crucial for the contiguity and viability of a future Palestinian state.

These constitute activities which ultimately violate UN resolutions and international law, he added, pointing out that houses belonging to Palestinians, including those in East Jerusalem, have continued to be destroyed, while violence has also been a frequent occurrence.

Representatives of many UNSC members have also voiced their deep concerns regarding the current situation, calling on all parties to comply with resolutions put forward by the UN to end violence, protect civilians, and resume negotiations.

The meeting is held every three months in order to debate the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which was passed in 2016, on the peace process in the Middle East.