Address by Minister Mauro Vieira during the General Debate of the High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution

Honorable Co-Chair

Excellencies,

Seventy-eight years have passed since the General Assembly endorsed the Two-State Solution framework. Yet the Palestinian statehood remains unrealized.

Brazil played a key role in that historic decision. Then Foreign Minister Oswaldo Aranha presided over sessions that adopted Resolution 181(II), laying the foundation for the Two-State Solution.

Brazil’s position has since remained firmly anchored in this legal framework.

Honorable Co-Chair,

For over seven decades, efforts for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have faltered. What has prevailed is an ever-growing illegal occupation and the continued denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

Not only have the Palestinians waited far too long to build their State. They now face the prospect of it becoming ever more distant.

In the past two years, we have borne witness to intolerable daily violations of Human and Humanitarian Rights in Palestine.

These abuses are not confined to Gaza, where haunting images of skeletal children starving to death flood our screens to our horror, and civilians are gunned down while desperately waiting in line for food.

Gaza is where homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship lie in ruins; where women and children are massacred; where journalists and humanitarian workers are caught in the crossfire. It is also where the essence of our humanity is being buried.

Meanwhile, illegal settlements continue to expand, and extremist settler violence in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels. In recent days alone, we have witnessed a young Palestinian beaten to death, the Church of Saint George set ablaze, and the desecration of a Byzantine cemetery.

These are not isolated incidents, but a systematic strategy of dispossession and collective punishment.

Honorable Co-Chair,

Brazil will not condone continued impunity. Hearing the global cry for justice, Brazil announces the following measures:

The intervention of Brazil in the ICJ case brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention.

The investigation and tighter control of imports from illegal settlements and other unlawfully occupied lands.

The continued denial of defence exports to Israel, in accordance with the Arms Trade Treaty.

The support for an UN-led international verification mission to monitor compliance with international law and a mechanism modeled after the Special Committee against apartheid.

Technical support for the Palestinian Authority in key state-building areas as per their need.

The continued support for UNRWA’s activities, including taking up the presidency of its Advisory Commission.

Ensuring a principled distinction between legitimate criticism of state policies and practices affecting Palestinians and antisemitism, following recommendations of UN Special Rapporteurs.

Honorable Co-Chair,

The key step toward making the Two-State solution viable is recognizing the State of Palestine. Recognition is a sovereign act – and, in this case, a moral obligation.

Virtually all Latin American and Caribbean countries  including Brazil, since 2010 – recognize the State of Palestine, as do most African and Asian countries.

As we commend France for joining the 70% of the UN members, Brazil underscores that non-recognition only normalizes an illegal and unjust reality, marked by occupation, systematic discrimination, the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and, potentially, genocide.

Recognizing Palestinian sovereignty strengthens its legitimacy and the Palestinian case for full UN membership.

Member-States must also act to halt illegal settlement activity, end forced displacement, lift the blockade on Gaza, restore full Palestinian sovereignty over its territory, ensure accountability and reparations, and establish a UN-monitored demilitarized buffer zone.

Honorable Co-Chair,

The ordeal of the Palestinians is the most pressing moral test of our time. It challenges our commitment to international law and human dignity.

Brazil stands ready to continue to work with Member-States to turn the Two-State solution a reality – not only for Israel, but also for Palestine.

Thank you.