NEW YORK, April 25, 2007 (WAFA) - Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations said Wednesday the Palestinian reality is harsh and depressing. "Yet, the Palestinian leadership, widely supported by the Palestinian people, continues to earnestly pursue peace."

Mansour's statement came before the Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.

He said that multiple efforts are being exerted by several parties, particularly the Arab Countries, the new Palestinian national unity government and the members of the Quartet, aimed at reviving the peace process towards a resumption of direct negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and ultimately the just and peaceful resolution of this tragic conflict.

"Such efforts have rekindled the hopes of the Palestinian people and all concerned parties for a breakthrough that will stem the deterioration of the situation and create an environment more conducive to dialogue and substantial peace negotiations," he added.

Regrettably, however, Mansour said, while these efforts are taking place, Israel, the occupying Power, continues to actively carry out illegal policies and practices aimed at sustaining its nearly 40-year old occupation of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

"While everyone else talks of peace, Israel's colonization campaign continues, its military aggression on the Palestinian civilian population continues, its collective punishment of the Palestinian people as a whole continues," he stated. "Such actions are in stark contradiction to peace efforts and exacerbate the dire situation on the ground, inflaming tensions and cynicism and undermining the resumption of dialogue and negotiation."

Mansour said that the backdrop for current peace efforts remains that of a crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in which the Palestinian people continue to suffer from the serious violations and grave breaches of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, that continue to be committed by the occupying Power on a daily basis.

"Thus, while hopes are rising among the Palestinian people and their leadership exerts efforts aimed at improving living conditions and reviving peace negotiations, the critical situation they face daily as a result of the occupying Power's actions, along with the unjust international sanctions imposed on them, tempers hopes and threatens to extinguish them."

Mansour stressed that such illegal and unjust Israeli practices constitute collective punishment of the Palestinian people and have had a devastating impact on the socio-economic situation and far-reaching humanitarian consequences.

He questioned why has Israel not accepted the Palestinian offer to extend the ceasefire to the West Bank? Why has Israel not accepted the hand of peace extended to it?

This unlawful situation must be brought to an end, said Mansour, it is unjustifiable, unethical, illogical and dangerous and will sabotage any progress made, whether by the Palestinian Authority itself on the ground or by any of the concerned parties vis-à-vis the peace process.

"There is a window of opportunity before us. On the Palestinian side, as well as on the Arab side, efforts are being exerted to seize this opportunity and to move forward," he said. "A key component on our part has been the formation of the Palestinian national unity government, the political platform of which affirms, among other things, respect for all previous agreements."

"We are willing and ready, and President Abbas, with support and a mandate from all Palestinian political groups, is prepared to negotiate unconditionally final status issues. If there is a partner for peace on the Israeli side to negotiate with us without conditions, we are ready."

Because we want negotiations to be fair and to be successful, we believe in the benefit of conducting negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides in the framework of an international conference, Mansour affirmed.

Mansour added that the Security Council, as the UN organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, and the Quartet members as a whole should not allow this historic opportunity to escape us.

"The opportunities provided by the re-launching of the Arab Peace Initiative and the formation of a Palestinian national unity government should be seized upon," he stressed. "The Road Map should be revived. International law and the relevant resolutions of the UN, which remain the foundation of any peace process, should be respected and not pushed aside."

He said such efforts will ensure the creation of a positive environment for dialogue and fair negotiations between the two sides towards the realization of the two-State solution of, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders.

He reiterated that no peace efforts can succeed if this crisis situation is allowed to continue, affirming that the international community, including the Security Council, must take steps to compel Israel, the occupying Power, to cease its human rights violations and grave breaches against the Palestinian people.

A.D (22.05P) (19.05GMT)