Mr. President,
We would like to thank Special Rapporteur Lynk for his presentation and express our gratitude for his invaluable efforts. The endeavors to compile such a comprehensive report without the cooperation of Israel deserve particular praise.
The current report clearly registers the human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territory. Its findings and recommendations deserve utmost consideration by the Member States. The international community should urge Israel to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur in fulfilling its mandate.
We appreciate in particular the emphasis given to the devastating effects of the Israeli occupation on the healthcare situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Palestinians living under occupation struggle to have access to even the most basic health care services. We call on the Israeli authorities to guarantee the right to health for all Palestinians.
Despite outright condemnations by the international community, illegal settlement activities, which impair the territorial integrity and contiguity of the State of Palestine, continue unimpeded. As underlined in the report, we also witness an increase in Israeli legislative acts seeking to extend Israeli legislation on the occupied territories, which is worrisome.
As referred to in the report, continued Israeli violations and settlement activities feeding into the sense of hopelessness among Palestinians, after the US decision on 6 December last year, may increase the tension that can engulf the whole region.
Turkey believes that it is now high time for the international community to find ways to neutralize the harm to the ground for peace and the two-state solution. The recognition of Palestine by more than 137 countries is an important signal.

Turkey on its part will resolutely carry out all efforts for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue. This primarily requires the establishment of a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel.

I thank you.