Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Security Council held an open debate onthe situation in the Middle East, including thePalestinian question, on February 11,focusing on new developments after the US announced its Middle East peace plan.

Atthe debate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process NickolayMladenov expressed concern about the tension in the Middle East.

TheUN Secretary-General said in such a context, a political solution to theIsrael-Palestine issue is key for sustainable peace in the region, noting thatthe UN is committed to supporting Palestine and Israel in solving disputes onthe basis of UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.

TheUN Special Coordinator said the goal of sustainablepeace for the region can only be realised with the two-state solution, underwhich two States, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace andsecurity on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital ofboth States.

Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas rejected the US’s peace plan, describing it as a unilateral step thatviolates international law and the sovereignty and the right to self-determinationof the Palestinians. He called on the UNSC and the Quartet on the Middle East(the US, Russia, the EU and the UN) to hold an international conference on peacein the Middle East, while urging the implementation of relevant UNSCresolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

In his statement,Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy affirmedVietnam’s strong support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian peoplefor their inalienable rights, and the two-state solution, including theestablishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with theborders enshrined in relevant resolutions of the United Nations, livingside-by-side with the State of Israel, in peaceful coexistence, security andmutual recognition.

Ambassador Quy called on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions that may further complicate the situationand maintain direct dialogues.

“It is our sincere hope that the parties willengage in discussions with goodwill and in a constructive manner” to seek a solution to the Israel - Palestineconflict that ensures the legitimate rights and interests of Palestine and allother parties concerned, he said./.