On 19 July 2013, ESCWA Director of the Emerging and Conflict-Related Issues Division Tarik Alami presented to the UN Economic and Social Council the Note of the Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, which is prepared by ESCWA on yearly basis.

The 28th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) continued its discussions this afternoon in Tunis and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Participants discussed the regular work of ESCWA at the service of the Palestinian people, which includes technical support to civil servants and advisory services to government officials. Participants also proposed additional activities by ESCWA particularly in the field of raising awareness and holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law.

ESCWA Deputy Executive Secretary Nadim Khoury stressed that the League of Arab States (LAS) and ESCWA are longtime partners in development in the region, adding that since its establishment, the Commission has viewed its partnership with LAS as a critical component in its regional role, both by mandate and in practice. Representing ESCWA at the annual UN-LAS Cooperation Meeting that was held on 10-12 July 2012 at the UN Office in Vienna, Khoury delivered a statement saying that Khalaf placed partnership with LAS in the front and centre of the organization’s strategy.