November 12, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 19, 1427

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 11: Pakistan on Friday said that the Middle East crisis was the greatest challenge to global security and called for an immediate end to Israel’s conflicts with its neighbours.

Addressing a special session of the UN Security Council on the Middle-East, Ambassador Munir Akram said: “It is time, first and foremost, to end the tragedy of Palestine.”

Mr Akram said that "given the human suffering, given the threat to

international peace and security, and given the responsibility entrusted to this council by the charter, this council must respond to the call of the Arab and the Islamic world for an immediate ceasefire in the occupied Palestinian territories, a ceasefire which is credible, sustainable and verifiable".

"We must address all the festering problems of the region, comprehensively and fairly. It is time to end Israel's conflicts with all its neighbours.”

Referring to Security Council’s helplessness during the conflict in Lebanon earlier this year, the Pakistani ambassador stressed: “It became obvious that a comprehensive approach was essential to bring durable peace and stability in the Middle East."

Mr Akram said that for the UN Security Council to restore its credibility it must take steps to resolve the Middle East dispute and urged Israel and the Palestinians to take confidence-building measures.

He called upon Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza, release Palestinian prisoners, remove obstacles to facilitate movement of civilians and humanitarian workers, halt and reverse construction of the Separation Wall, freeze settlement activities and dismantle outposts in West Bank, release customs and VAT payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA), and accept negotiations with PA.

Mr Akram urged the Palestinians to stop violence, release the captured Israeli soldier, and establish a national unity government to negotiate with

Israel.