China said here on Tuesday that Israeli settlement is the major obstacle for the resumption of Palestine-Israel peace talks, appealing to Israel to immediately cease its settlement activities and create conditions to break stalement.

"The Israeli settlement is the direct cause resulting in the stalement of the Palestine and Israel peace talks. It is also the major obstacle for the resumption of the peace talks," said Wang Min, deputy permanent representative of the Chinese Mission to the UN, when addressing a monthly Security Council open date on Middle East.

"China is against the Israeli construction of settlement in occupied Palestine territory. We appeal to Israel to immediately cease its settlement activities and help create conditions for the mutual trust between the two parties and break the stalement of the peace talks," Wang told the Council.

Wang said that the protracted and unsettled Middle East issue is "the root cause" blocking the peace and development in the Middle East. It also affects world peace and stability, he said.

Stressing that the Middle East issue is now "at a crucial crossroad," Wang said that China is deeply concerned with the current state of the peace talks between Palestine and Israel.

"China stands for a solution to the Palestinian and Israeli disputes through political and diplomatic channels on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, land-for-peace Principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the peace road map for the Middle East, so as to establish a state of Palestine with full sovereignty and independence, with the two countries of Palestine and Israel living in peace," said Wang.

He also said that China welcomes the internal reconciliation among Palestinian parties, expressing the hope that they take this as a basis, enhance its internal unity and cooperation, and play an active role to move the Middle East process forward.

Wang said that the solution to the Middle East issue is inseparable from the vigorous support and assistance from the international community.

China attaches great importance to important role played by the Quartet mechanism, and hopes that it will soon propose specific programs conducive for the resumption of the talks between the two parties, the ambassador said.

He said that China hopes that international community will "display political wisdom and courage, strengthen efforts for peace and negotiation and continue to make unrelenting efforts to facilitate the resumption of peace talks."

China is in favor of the Council's more active and practical involvement in this issue, playing a role in reuniting the peace process in the Middle East, Wang said.

In order to achieve a comprehensive, lasting and just peace in the Middle East, the peace talks between Lebanon and Israel, and that between Syria and Israel should be conducted in parallel, he added.

All relevant parties should create conditions for dialogue and negotiation so as to put an end to the prelonged confrontation and tension in the Middle East, Wang said.

"China has been resolute in supporting the just cause of Palestinian people in regaining their legitimate national rights and supporting the establishment of a Palestine state with full sovereignty and independence. China appreciates Palestine for its adherence to the choice of peace and will continue to support the just cause of the Palestinian people," said Wang.

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