Mr. Chairman,

 

At the outset, I wish to stress Israel's forceful rejection of the yearly ritual of introducing a politicized resolution or decision into the  overburdened agenda of this Assembly. The UN system has many more appropriate fora for such a debate. Your time and the resources of this Organization will be better served.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

We note with satisfaction that the WHO continued this year to hand significant support to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. I would like to emphasize that Israel and the WHO have the same interest, namely to enable medical and humanitarian aid to reach people in need. In this context, Israel has sent emergency medical aid to Gaza and enabled transfer of Gaza patients to Israeli hospitals. Israel works closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Health to respond to the medical needs of the Palestinian population in the West Bank.

 

Furthermore, by way of example, in 2013, 2314 Palestinian doctors and nurses took part in 159 training courses in Israel. Dozens of doctors train at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. In 2013 there was an increase of 88% in the number of children from Gaza receiving treatment in Israel. This is but a snapshot of the realities of the situation.

 

By the way, an exhibit of photos of children taken at the Schneider Medical Center in Israel is displayed in the lobby. It shows the sad co-existence of suffering and healing of Israeli and Palestinian children and families. Go and see it!

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

Regarding any reference to the Golan Heights, in the present decision I ask whether we have completely lost our bearings. I would like to quote from a joint statement of heads of humanitarian agencies on Syria, including Dr. Chan, on April 23:

 

- 1.25 million people in need of food in Aleppo

 

- In Aleppo there are now 40 doctors for a population of 2.5 million people

 

- Across Syria the lives, lives- ladies and gentlemen, of more than

 

9.3 million people are affected

 

- Water treatment plants no longer functioning, 60% of health care centers destroyed

 

- 3.5 million people unable to be reached with humanitarian assistance

One cannot overlook the public health disaster of an outbreak of polio.

 

And the present decision calls for providing health-related assistance to the Golan Heights inhabitants? I thought the WHO budget was short but I may be wrong.

 

Suffice it to say that the health situation of the Golan Heights inhabitants is excellent, I call for a vote on this politicized decision and call on all of you to reject this item from the agenda and vote against this decision.

 

Thank you.