✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | September 20th, 2024 — Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, delivered a powerful and impassioned address on Thursday at the Security Council, emphasizing the urgency of imposing peace on those who reject it and dismiss its significance. He called for swift, resolute actions underpinned by stringent mechanisms of accountability to ensure that decisions are not only made but also enforced.
“Today, more than ever, we need decisions that are accompanied by rigorous oversight and accountability mechanisms. This is why Algeria is convinced that peace must be imposed on those who reject it and who refuse to believe in its value,” declared Ambassador Bendjama during a meeting of the Security Council, which focused on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian cause.
The ambassador underscored the dire state of the region, warning that inaction would inevitably lead to greater disaster. “The primary mission of the Security Council is to safeguard international peace and security. The gravity of the situation in the Middle East requires rapid and decisive action. Each and every one of us here must recognize that the region is teetering on the edge of catastrophe,” Bendjama stated, with a sense of urgency and alarm. “We must learn from history, or we will be condemned to repeat it. A total regional war is looming, and we must do everything in our power to prevent it.”
Condemnation of Zionist Aggression and Illegal Expansion
In his address, Bendjama denounced the apartheid policies pursued by the Zionist occupation forces, accusing them of orchestrating ethnic cleansing campaigns in Gaza while perpetuating chaos and instability in the West Bank. “The occupying power continues to impose a new status quo, particularly through unprecedented levels of settlement expansion and illegal annexation of territories, which violate Resolution 2334,” Bendjama decried.
The ambassador did not mince words in expressing his outrage at the impunity with which the Zionist entity continues to flout international law. He emphasized that the occupying power’s flagrant violations of past agreements and its systematic disregard for international norms undermine the very foundation of civilized society. “It is intolerable that the Zionist entity continues to evade accountability, emboldened by its blatant disregard for international law,” Bendjama stated.
He further stressed that peace in the Middle East cannot be realized without the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state. “If we truly want to spare future generations from the horrors of war, as we have pledged in the UN Charter, the solution is clear: there can be no peace in the Middle East without the creation of an independent Palestinian state,” Bendjama asserted, underscoring Algeria’s longstanding commitment to the Palestinian cause.
The International Legal Framework and the Need for Action
In his remarks, Ambassador Bendjama referred to the recent advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19, which was presented to both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. The opinion underscored that ending the illegal Zionist presence in the Palestinian territories is a matter of international obligation for both bodies. “The ICJ has made it clear: the UN General Assembly and the Security Council must work to end the illegal Zionist occupation of Palestinian lands. This is not a question of politics; it is a question of international law and justice,” Bendjama insisted.
He pointed to the General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution just the day before, reflecting the international community’s will to hold the Zionist entity accountable for its actions. In a pointed challenge to the Security Council, Bendjama asked, “Will this Council continue to ignore the founding principles of the United Nations? What will remain of this Council’s credibility if it continues to turn a blind eye to the directives of its highest legal authority?”
The Human Toll and the International Double Standard
Ambassador Bendjama also shone a spotlight on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the occupied Palestinian territories, echoing the report delivered by Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. He condemned the ongoing violence against Palestinians, including children, labeling it as terrorism enabled by the silence of the international community. “The Palestinians, including innocent children, are facing terrorism on a daily basis. This is a reality we cannot afford to ignore any longer,” Bendjama stressed, his voice filled with indignation.
He also lamented the glaring double standards in how international law is applied, pointing out the persistent disregard for Palestinian lives in a context of growing global apathy. “The world continues to demonstrate a nauseating indifference to Palestinian suffering, where human rights seem to have become a privilege reserved for some at the expense of others. Let me make this clear: Palestinian lives matter, and we will not stop reminding the world of this truth,” the ambassador proclaimed, his words resonating powerfully in the chamber.
A Call for Justice and a United Stand for Peace
In closing, Bendjama reaffirmed Algeria’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people and reiterated the necessity of collective action. “If we are sincere in our desire to protect future generations from the ravages of war, we must act now. Peace must not be a luxury afforded only to those who accept it; it must be enforced on those who refuse it,” he concluded.
Ambassador Bendjama’s address at the Security Council was a clarion call for justice, peace, and accountability in a region that has long suffered under the weight of occupation and violence. His impassioned plea highlighted Algeria’s unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause and its determination to see the principles of the United Nations upheld in the pursuit of lasting peace.
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