being that of a permanent member of the Council. 191. The PRESIDENT: I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. 192. Mr. WOOLCOTT (Australia): I should like to asso- ciate the Australian delegation with the high praise that has been accorded to your diplomatic skills by previous speakers and to welcome you, Sir John, as President of the Council for the month of September. 193. I should like also to record my delegation’s warm appreciation of the skilful way in which the representative of the Soviet Union discharged his duties as President dur- ing the month of August. 194. The Australian delegation abstained in the vote. In considering the draft resolution we have taken into account all the statements made to the Council in these two meetings and our understanding of the situation on the ground in the occupied territories. What is clear to us is the increasing unrest on the West Bank with violence breeding violence, often to the detriment of innocent civili- ans. Of particular regret to my delegation are the graphic and sad accounts of attacks on innocent women and child- ren, attacks that we find outrageous and repugnant. 195. In approaching the issue before the Council, my delegation has been guided by a number of considerations. We cannot do otherwise but note that the persistence of problems of this sort reinforces the continuing need for a just and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East. In the present case, we regard Israel’s continued occupation of the occupied territories as being in breach of international law. Equally, while the occupation continues there can be no doubt as to the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement made by a representative of the Australian delegation to the United Nations Security Council, discussing a draft resolution related to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The statement expresses concerns about the situation on the ground, including violence and attacks on civilians, and emphasizes the need for a just and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations