Egypt on Tuesday urged the UN General Assembly to support draft resolutions which express "grave concern" over Israel's illegal settlement activities and restrictions on Palestinian people, Xinhua reported.
The statement came as Egyptian Ambassador to the UN Maged Abdelaziz introduced two draft resolutions to the plenary session of the 64th General Assembly session during the debate on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.
"The sponsors of these two draft resolutions believe that the time has come for the international community to deal with the situation of the conflict in the Middle East through a comprehensive approach," Abdelaziz said.
"This can not be achieved without a political will and serious commitment from Israel to realize its full withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories," he said.
In order to achieve this, Abdelaziz said that the sponsors of the draft "look forward to the support of all States members of the General Assembly to vote in favor of these two draft resolutions and support the important goals contained therein, in order to reaffirm the firmness of the international will to achieve the set goals."
"Israel, for its part, will choose the path of peace over any course of conflict," Israeli UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said on Tuesday at the General Assembly debate on the question of Palestine.
She noted that a few days ago, the government of Israel had announced a new policy of settlement restraint which involves a new construction in the West Bank for ten months.
Shalev said that "Israel wants to re-enter into negotiations with the Palestinians," while underscoring that "it is taking painful and effective steps" toward peace and that it is "serious about its intention."