Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1511791
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 NOVEMBER 2023 9 INTERVIEW The following are excerpts from the interview. The full interview can be found onmaltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. Following the resolu- tion nothing has really changed on the ground for the thousands of Pales- tinians who live under constant bombardment, who do not have prop- er access to water, food, health care and where even hospitals running short of fuel. So, what exactly have we accom- plished? A full month and a half after this war started... we have an approved a resolution which is now effectively interna- tional law, and all parties are obliged to respect it… What is important is that the interna- tional community puts pres- sure… to ensure the resolu- tion is respected. But Israel has already made it clear that it will not abide by the resolu- tion. I ask you the same question made by the UN representative of the Pal- estinian Authority Riyad Mansour: "So, what are you going to do about it?" Well what Israel is saying is that the resolution was not needed because they are al- ready respecting internation- al law… and the whole em- phasis of the resolution is on respecting international law. If they don't [respect the res- olution] it would be a matter of grave concern. One should distinguish between Hamas and the Palestinian Authori- ty… But I am sure that the Pal- estinian people appreciate that there is now a framework of international law to protect civilians. But if Israel does not abide by it, would you support sanctions or not? If such a proposal is put on the table, we would consider it with an open mind and take a decision at the appropriate moment... One of the contentious aspects of the resolution tabled by Malta is that it fails to ask for a blanket ceasefire... Even Prime Minister Robert Abela recently made a clear distinction between a ceasefire and humanitar- ian pauses, expressing a clear preference for the former. Yet instead, the resolution speaks of humanitarian pauses not even of one general pause to the fighting. Did this dilute the resolution? There is the argument that if you use the word ceasefire it would mean that Israel does not have the right to defend itself from a terrorist organi- sation. You have a situation where some countries are insisting on a ceasefire be- cause the Palestinians can- not endure more bombard- ments while others like Israel think that this would leave them defenceless in the face of atrocities like that commit- ted on 7 October… All previ- ous bids to get a resolution passed failed because these were perceived to be biased in favour of one of the two contrasting arguments. We were faced with a blocked sit- uation in a council where its five permanent members can exercise a veto... Our resolu- tion is not perfect. But had we not negotiated, through con- tinuous phone calls and con- tacts, to get an agreement on the wording we would not have even managed to get this resolution approved. Malta has contributed to give some credibility back to the system. But we are also mak- ing it clear that this is just the first step… Would you describe what is happening in Gaza as a genocide? In this case pictures speak louder than any words. We can argue about the choice of words we use. But the pic- tures of dead children, left helpless in hospitals which are unable to function, par- ents fleeing their homes… you can choose whatever word you like to describe this, but all this is clearly unacceptable. These people cannot be made to suffer be- cause of the acts of a terrorist group… Former President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was among 150 signatories of a letter calling on the government urging it to recall its ambassador in Tel Aviv in protest. Why have you not taken this step? I understand and appreci- ate what she and the other signatories said… My ques- tion is what would we have achieved in concrete terms had we implemented this rec- ommendation? Had we taken such a step would we have managed to get the consent of the US and the UK for the resolution and the support of countries like France? ...our ambassador in Israel is regu- larly summoned by the Israeli foreign affairs ministry where she is able to convey Malta's position clearly even if what she says is often not to their liking... If I recall the ambas- sador, I will get the applause of those making this call but what good will come out of it? PHOTO: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY