International law is the bedrock of international order and security. Where there is no law, peace is unattainable. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice published two months ago is far-reaching and provides an important frame of reference. It has made it clear that the status quo in the region cannot continue. Regarding Israel’s settlement policy in the occupied territories, the Federal Government has reiterated time and again that it constitutes a violation of international law and stands in the way of a two-state solution. We will respect the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, act in accordance with the obligations of international law that it sets out and lend our full support to its implementation.

A negotiated two-state solution is the only way to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East and therefore remains a firm objective of Germany’s foreign policy. We are calling for this not only in our dealings with our partners in the region, but also time and again in relevant United Nations resolutions. This is the only way to safeguard Israel’s legitimate security interests, and it is the only way for Palestinians to be able to live in security and dignity in their own state.

The resolution tabled yesterday went beyond the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on a number of important points. For example, it sets an unrealistic deadline for ending the occupation and disregards the fact that direct negotiations between the parties are required in order to achieve a sustainable solution. Furthermore, the resolution makes no mention of Israel’s legitimate security interests and does not sufficiently take into account its right to self-defence. For these reasons, Germany, like a number of our partners, abstained in the resolution.