At a UN Security Council meeting "on protection of civilians" held on January 19, 2016, Israel was demonized for exercising the right of self-defense to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism. Instead, Palestinian terrorists were characterized as "civilians" needing "protection" from the democratic state of Israel.
The Palestinian representative's remarks evidence the root cause of the conflict: continued objection to the creation of Jewish state in 1948.
RIYAD MANSOUR, representative of the Palestinian Authority, said in his statement:
"The Palestinian people know too well the pain and tragedy of such turmoil and dislocation as they continue to suffer the injustices of the 1948 Nakba...We have repeatedly appealed for protection for the Palestinian people, not just in the recent period but over the decades as our people have endured immeasurable oppression and cruelty under Israel's occupation, including killing and injury of civilians...Israeli... military raids targeting especially Palestinian youth and children, many killed in blatant extrajudicial executions; in rampant terror and violence..."
Other state representatives:
Syria said: "My delegation would like to renew its plea of ensuring protection of ... those who are suffering from the Israeli occupation of the Golan and other territories and to put an end to the Israeli practices which are aggressive and to put an end to the occupation. This Council's silence vis-a-vis Israel's flouting of international law and humanitarian law and human rights and other international instruments on fighting terrorism means that Israel believes that it is immune of being held responsible and act like it means that they can support terrorist groups acting in the Golan undermining the security in the region... It is also unfortunate that a large number of speakers have not addressed the issue of the deep-seated causes of the Syrian crisis, causes which are terrorist groups ... and the perpetration of Israeli occupation in Syrian territory... The government of Syria once again asks the Security Council to shoulder its proper responsibility with regard to enforcing the charter in terms of the Israeli occupation and it further asks the Israeli authorities to be held accountable, especially in regards to Security Council resolutions."
Malaysia said: "We wish to recall and highlight the plight of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories who seem to be perceived as being less than worthy of protection by this august council. Palestine and her people cannot remain the council's Achilles' heel indefinitely. Malaysia reiterates its call for UN protection of the occupied Palestinian territory..."
Egypt said: "The best example of the urgency of this issue are ... the violations suffered by the Palestinian people who has been suffering occupation for more than 60 years, the protection of those falls in the purview of the Security Council..."
Qatar said: "The ongoing Israeli practices- illegal practices - against the civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories ... are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law... Therefore we call on the Council to protect the Palestinian people and to put an end to the violations of their rights and to implement international resolutions on Palestine.""
Kuwait said: "We cannot forget the case of the disarmed, of the people of Palestine when we talk about international humanitarian law. The continued violations by Israel, the occupying power, which defies the international community and international humanitarian law, calls for a rapid action by the council to guarantee international protection of the unarmed Palestinian people"
South Africa said: "Palestine, Libya, and Syria are clear examples of the untold suffering civilians experienced as a consequence of this Council's inadequacy to finding political solutions to these conflicts."
Venezuela said: "Israeli attacks against the Palestinian population in Gaza in 2014 exacted a toll of more than 1,500 Palestinian lives... We have seen, going back to Israel, that this is one of the most extended cases of prolonged occupation in the world and it is having a very adverse impact on the population."