Remarks on behalf of Canada, Australia, New Zealand at United Nations Security Council "Arria-Formula" Meeting on the West Bank, including East Jerusalem

Statement

May 8, 2026

Thank you, Mr. President.

I make this statement on behalf of Australia, New Zealand, and my own country, Canada (CANZ).

CANZ countries thank you for convening this United Nations Security Council Arria-Formula meeting to discuss the deeply concerning situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

CANZ countries remain firmly committed to the goal of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following the horrors of Hamas’ October 7 attack, which took the lives of nearly 1,200 people, including our citizens, and the subsequent conflict which has claimed countless civilian lives in Gaza, it is clear that a two-state solution is the only way of ensuring lasting peace, security, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

As we collectively work to address the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the international community must also maintain focus on the deeply concerning situation in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. The increasing pace of settlement expansion and the sharp rise in extremist settler violence continue to undermine the human rights of Palestinians, further destabilize the region, and further entrench a trajectory that makes a two-state solution more difficult to achieve.

CANZ countries reiterate that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem are illegal under international law. Settlement expansion and Israel-imposed restrictions on movement undermine the territorial contiguity and viability of a Palestinian state and significantly erode prospects for peace. We also call on Israel to reverse its policy of evictions and demolitions that targets Palestinians.

We reiterate our condemnation of the Israeli security Cabinet’s decisions to expand Israeli control over the West Bank. Such measures, including the Government of Israel’s reported approval of 34 new settlements in the West Bank and $270 million budget to build Israeli-only roads connecting settlements and dividing the West Bank, are of deep concern to CANZ countries. We call on Israel to uphold international law and to reverse its policy of settlement expansion. We further reiterate our opposition to any attempts to annex any part of the West Bank, and to any forcible displacement of the Palestinian people.

We remain alarmed by the acts of violence and terror perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. We condemn acts of violence, intimidation, and the destruction of property and we call on the Israeli authorities to prevent such actions and to hold those responsible accountable. CANZ countries will each continue to examine all appropriate measures to promote accountability for violence and extremist rhetoric. Furthermore, CANZ countries reiterate their condemnation of Israel’s discriminatory death penalty law.

In this context, we also reiterate the need to maintain the status quo at Jerusalem's Holy sites, and we strongly condemn the recent acts of violence and intimidation against worshippers in Jerusalem.

CANZ countries reaffirm their support for the Palestinian Authority as an essential partner for peace. We will each continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it implements much needed reforms, including so that it can return to governance in Gaza.

CANZ countries welcome the holding of Palestinian local elections on April 25, which represented an important moment for Palestinian voters, and we look forward to future elections where Palestinians can again express their democratic rights.

CANZ countries will continue to work with international partners, including through the United Nations, to protect civilians, support de-escalation, advance accountability, and preserve the pathways towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.

Thank you.