Chinese envoy urges Israel on two-state solution
A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged Israel to cease discrediting the two-state solution. "We urge Israel to cease discrediting the two-state solution, stop eroding the basis of the two-state solution, and end its illegal settlement activities," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly on the use of veto. Geng stressed that nearly five months after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, the Security Council's call for a ceasefire was forcibly blocked by the United States for the fourth time, "which China found extremely disappointing." He added that the result of the Security Council's vote clearly shows that on the issue of demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the vast majority of council members are in agreement. "However, the United States has been the only country to abuse its veto power to stifle the consensus of the Council, causing widespread discontent in the international community," Geng said. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza "is a prerequisite to save innocent civilians and provide humanitarian assistance, and a key to avoiding further escalation and proliferation of the conflict." "As Ramadan is approaching, the international community must push for an immediate ceasefire and end to the conflict with the strongest sense of urgency and the political determination, in order to preserve the hope of survival for the people of Gaza," he said.   "We call on the country concerned to put aside geostrategic considerations and domestic political calculations, be truly impartial and responsible in making the right choice, and play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire in Gaza."  The ambassador noted that Gaza under gunfire is facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, with an extreme shortage of survival supplies, nearly 600,000 people on the verge of famine, and social order on the verge of collapse.  "We urge Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with its obligations under international law to guarantee safe, rapid, unimpeded entry of sufficient humanitarian supplies. Practical measures should be taken to protect the safety of humanitarian agencies and personnel and to facilitate them to deliver their relief work." Geng went on to say that the "two-state solution" is the only viable way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli issue. He added that recently, some Israeli political figures have openly and repeatedly rejected the two-state solution and any international efforts toward independent Palestinian statehood. "This is very alarming." (Xinhua)