On October 18, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Security Council Open Debate on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.”   
 
In his statement, Archbishop Auza stated that the Palestinian Question has been the subject of Security Council reports, debates and resolutions since 1947 and that the Holy See has always supported a two-state solution with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side within secure and internationally recognized borders. Leaders on both sides, he said, have the responsibility to lead their people toward a mutually agreed resolution and regional neighbors and other concerned States must not obstruct or scuttle the peace process to further their own national interests. The Holy See, he stated, affirms the historical status quo of Jerusalem in accordance with UN resolutions and says that it should be a place of convergence and peace with free and unhindered access for Jews, Christians and Muslims. He said that the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), supplemented by various charitable groups and Catholic organizations, remains the best means to prevent the humanitarian situation for Palestine refugees from worsening. He concluded by expressing the Holy See’s hope for the resumption of final status negotiations.

The statement can be found here.