On October 18, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Security Council Open Debate dedicated to “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.”  

In his intervention, Archbishop Auza said that the Palestinian Question remains prominent among the problems facing the Middle East, and that the Holy See firmly believes that the only option for peaceful coexistence is to have two independent States. He urged both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to refrain from any and all provocative actions and show a determined will to engage in sincere negotiations. He reaffirmed that free and unhindered access to the Holy Places in Jerusalem should be guaranteed. He also spoke of the situation in Yemen and Syria, appealed for greater funding to help refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Egypt, and said equality before the law based on the principle of citizenship regardless of one’s race, ethnic origin or religion is fundamental to keeping peace in the region and beyond.

His statement can be found here.