UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Permanent Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour on Thursday commended the EU members of the Security Council for defending Khan al-Ahmar, a Palestinian village that Israel plans to demolish.
At a press encounter outside the council chamber, Mansour expressed appreciation for "the principle and strong position" which called on Israel to reconsider its decision to demolish the village in the West Bank.
The envoy expressed hope that the international community would rally behind the position, as well as the position of the UN secretary-general, to stop "the Israeli occupying power" from demolishing the community.
Also at the encounter, Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the UN Mansour al-Otaibi stressed Israel has to comply with resolution 2334, which demands it stop settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian territory.
"We will do our utmost to see the council trying to push Israel to implement all Security Council resolutions," he said.
Before Mansour spoke, the EU members of the Security Council called on Israel to reconsider its decision to demolish Khan al-Ahmar.
"As repeatedly stressed, the consequences of a demolition of this community and the displacement of its residents, including children, would be very serious and would severely threaten the viability of the two-state solution and undermine prospects of peace," they said in a joint statement.
Khan al-Ahmar is located in a sensitive location in Area C, of strategic importance for preserving the contiguity of a future Palestinian state, it said.
The statement was endorsed by Britain, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland -- the current EU members of the Security Council -- and Belgium, Germany, and Italy.
Belgium and Germany will become council members next year. Italy splits a two-year council term with the Netherlands.
