New York (VNA) – UN Special Coordinator for theMiddle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov reported the developments in theMiddle East to the UN Security Council via a videoconference on December 21,highlighting the challenges in implementing Security Councilresolution 2334.

He noted that Israel has continued with plans on settlementexpansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, adding that halfof the settlements are deep in the West Bank, in areas crucial for thecontiguity and viability of a future Palestinian State.

He said that the activities violate UN resolutions andinternational law, pointing out that houses of Palestinians, including those inEast Jerusalem, have continued to be destroyed, while violence has occurredfrequently.

Representatives of many members of the council voiced theirdeep concern about the situation and called on all parties to abide byresolutions of the UN, end violence, protect civilians and resume negotiations.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese mission to the UN saidthat settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have nolegal validity and constitute a violation of international law and UnitedNations resolutions.

Showing concern about the continuous violence recently, he urgedall parties to practice restraint and not to conduct actions complicating thesituation and hindering negotiations and dialogues.

Vietnam support the intermediary role of the UN and welcomed international cooperationinitiatives that help reach a fair, sustainable and long-term solution to theMiddle East peace process, he stated.

The ambassadoralso underlined Vietnam’s support to the two-State solution with East Jerusalemas the capital of the Palestine State, in line with international law and UNresolutions.

The meeting isheld every three months to discuss the implementation of UN Security CouncilResolution 2334 (2016) on the peace process in the Middle East.

The same day,Canada announced a grant of 70 million USD to United Nations Relief andWorks Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

This support, to be delivered in three years, will helprespond to the rising needs of vulnerable Palestinian refugees in UNRWA’s 5areas of operation - the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, accordingto a statement of Canada’s Foreign Ministry.

It added that the aid will allow more than half a millionchildren to receive a quality education and will help finance more than 140primary health clinics, as well as provide shelter and food to indigentrefugees.

From 2016-2019, Canada spent 85 million USD to support UNRWA.It also provided 1.1 million USD in April to help it respond to the COVID-19pandemic.

The US used to provide UNRWA with 300 million USD a year,roughly a third of its core annual budget. But President Donald Trump’sgovernment stopped the aid in 2018./.