Photo Credit: The Economist
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The question of Israel, Palestine and the related
conflicts and occupations has commanded attention of the UN since the
organization was founded. The first UN peacekeeping operation deployed
to monitor the ceasefire lines after the war of 1948. This site
introduces readers to the key issues, with a special focus on
UN involvement and peacekeeping concerns.
For many years, successive Israeli governments
refused to consider a Palestinian state, while most Arabs denied the
legitimacy of Israel. In the 1970s both sides began to recognize the
need for compromise. The Palestinians proposed a separate state,
claiming the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war as their
homeland. This idea found widespread support in the international
community, as expressed in
UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and
338.
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Today's negotiations include discussion about a future
Palestinian state, but three issues plague the
peace
process: the Israeli settlements in the
Occupied
Territories, sovereignty over
Jerusalem, and the future of 3.7 million stateless Palestinian refugees
whose right
of return gives them a claim to future citizenship, financial settlement
and, in some cases, return to former homes in what is today Israel.
Our
Links page lists other sites that cover this conflict in more detail.
Security Council Resolutions
Security
Council Resolution 242 - 1967
Generally accepted by the international community as the primary legal basis
for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian question, this
resolution calls on Israel to relinquish control of territories occupied in
the war of 1967.
Commentary on Resolution 242
Security Council Resolution 338 - 1973
Calls on all parties to abide by Resolution 242.
Security Council Resolution 1397 - 2002
Affirming a vision of the Middle East as a region “where two States, Israel
and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders,” the
Security Council calls for an end to the violence and for a return to the
negotiating table.
Security Council Resolution 1402 (March 30, 2002)
Calling for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Ramallah and other
Palestinian cities, the Council passed a resolution drafted by Norway which
was adopted with 14-0 vote. Syria abstained to protest that the resolution was
not stronger in condemning Israel.
General Assembly Resolutions
General Assembly Resolution 194 - 1948
Calls on Israel to respect the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
General Assembly Resolution 181 - 1947
The partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, and the
internationalization of Jerusalem.
General Assembly Resolution ES-10/8 - 2001
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on illegal Israeli actions in
Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The resolution calls on Israel and Palestine to implement the recommendations
of the Mitchell Report.
The United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA)
UN page on the
Question of Palestine
UN DPKO Missions in the Middle East:
General Articles
Le Monde
Diplomatique provides a
timeline of the Israeli-Palestinian question from 1947-2000.
What
Went Wrong? The Collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process (August 8,
2001)
Jerome Slater examines the collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
in 2000 and argues convincingly that contrary to the prevailing view, it is
Israel rather than the Palestinians that bears the primary responsibility, not
only for the latest breakdown but for the entire course of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 1948. (Political Science Quarterly)
The
Israel-Arafat Agreement (October 1993)
Noam Chomsky provides an analysis of negotiations from 1967 to 1993.
Throughout, the peace process has been marred by US interference and Israel’s
reluctance to abide by UN resolutions and international law. (Z Magazine)
UN and the Mideast: Looking Back (March 29, 2002)
The Security Council has addressed the issue of Arab-Israeli relations since
World War I. “Here are examples of how the Council has called on the parties
to settle half a century of conflict.” (New York Times)
UN Calls for Israeli Pullout From Palestinian Cities (March 30,
2002)
The Security Council passes a resolution urging the
Israelis and Palestinians to implement a “meaningful ceasefire” immediately.
The resolution also calls for “the withdrawal of Israeli troops from
Palestinian cities, including Ramallah.” (Reuters)
If Bush is Having 'Visions', America Must Need Arab Support for
Another War (March 14, 2002)
Without a clear link between Resolution 1397 and the Resolution 242 of
1967 that specifically referred to the Israeli occupation, the Independent
argues that the current resolution on Middle East peace has left out the
thorny land issue to be “resolved later.”
US Role in Resolution on Mideast Startles Some (March 14, 2002)
The adoption of a Security Council resolution on the Middle East surprised
everybody. The New York Times reveals how Council members negotiated it
and the role the US and Syria played.
UN Council Backs Plan for Palestinian State (March 13, 2002)
The UN Security Council has adopted a US-drafted
resolution referring for the first time to a Palestinian state existing
side by side with Israel. (Reuters)
Israel, Palestinians Welcome UN Resolution, but Killing Continues (March 13,
2002)
Israelis hail
Resolution 1397’s “balanced” view compared to previous resolutions that
tended to isolate Israel. Palestinians also welcome the resolution as an
“advance” for the Palestinian cause. (Agence France Presse)
UN Chiefs Must Summon the Courage to Take on Israel (March 12, 2002)
Kofi Annan and the UN should play a greater role in resolving the escalating
Israeli-Palestine conflict, writes Professor Amin Saikal in this opinion
piece. He believes that few Arabs have any faith in the United States to
broker peace in the Middle East. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Rush of US Diplomacy Deepens Arab Concern About Intentions Towards Iraq
(March 12, 2002)
Increased US diplomatic activity in the Middle East raises concern among the
Arab countries that the US’s real motivation is to avoid a two-front war by
first quieting Palestine before dealing with Iraq. (Agence France Presse)
UN Chief Demands Israeli Withdrawal from Refugee Camps (March 1, 2002)
Secretary-General Kofi Annan called upon Israel to withdraw its defense forces
from Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. Annan also warned that unless
the Security Council takes decisive action on stemming the violence, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict risks sliding towards a full-fledged war. (Interpress
Service)
Israelis and Palestinians Agree to Resume Security Talks
(February 26, 2002)
A Saudi peace initiative raises hopes as Israeli and Palestinian security
officials meet in Tel Aviv to discuss how to end the violence. Under the Saudi
proposal, Arab states would establish a comprehensive peace agreement with
Israel in return for Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied since
1967. (Associated Press)
An Antiwar Movement Grows in Israel (February 25, 2002)
Israeli combat officers and soldiers affiliated with Israel’s political center
announce in an
open letter that they are no longer willing to serve in Palestinian
territories. (The Nation)
In Israel, A New-Old Voice of Conscience Awakens (February 22, 2002)
The Middle East Research and Information Project analyses the growing
movement of conscientious objection in Israel. The refusal by Israeli
reservists to serve in Palestinian Occupied Territories has provoked intense
public debate in the Knesset and within political parties.
Israel Reservists Back Occupation End (February 18, 2002)
The Council for Peace and Security, a group representing top-level Israeli
reserve officers and intelligence officials, calls for the immediate
establishment of a Palestinian state – “whether violence continues from the
Palestinian side or not.”(BBC News)
End Arafat 'Arrest', Says Annan (February 13, 2002)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urges Israel to end the house arrest of
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Annan reminds Israel that making progress on
security-related issues "without addressing the occupation will not bring
lasting security.” (News Interactive)
UN Terror Draft to Outlaw Israeli Strikes (January 30, 2002)
The US and Israel block attempts by India and the Organization of Islamic
States to make state terrorism an offence in the current draft of the UN
Convention on International Terrorism. The US and Israel also contest the
draft because it does not outlaw attacks by the PLO and Hamas. (Times News
Network)
Palestinian Arms Ship: What Had to Be Proved (January 6, 2002)
David Grossman calls on Israelis to challenge the government's depiction of
the arms shipment bound for the Palestine Authority as "final proof" of the
Palestineans "criminal" intentions. As he points out, the incident only proves
that oppression and harassment will induce people to take all measures
available to assert themselves. (Ha'aretz Daily)
UN Assembly Urges Member States To Move Embassies Out of
Jerusalem (December 3, 2001)
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a resolution stating that
Israel's Basic Law, which proclaimed Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible
capital of the Jewish state, was "illegal and therefore null and void.” The
resolution calls on all states with embassies in Jerusalem to move them out of
the city. (Agence France Presse)
Israel Rejects UN Call to Leave West Bank (November 13, 2001)
Israel said its forces would remain in two Palestine-controlled areas, despite
a demand by the permanent members of the Security Council to withdraw
immediately. (Reuters)
A Palestinian State is Key to Mideast (November 1, 2001)
Unlike other conflicts, where reason seems to favor one of the sides, in this
one both Israelis and Palestinians have just claims to land and peace. Thus
both sides can be blamed for the increasing occurrence of criminal actions
that are feeding the violence. A way out the impasse would be a specific
proposal by the UN Security Council for the establishment of a Palestinian
state. (Japan Times)
UN Report Presses Israel to Accept Peacekeepers (October 29, 2001)
An UN General Assembly report by John Dugard argues that an international
observer force between Israel and Palestine may help end more than a year of
violence in the region. (Reuters). Read the
report : "Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories
occupied by Israel since 1967"
Sharon Says Israeli Offensive Open-Ended (October 21, 2001)
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will not end Israel’s biggest military operation
since the 1993 Oslo Peace until he decides that Yasser Arafat is genuinely
cracking down on terrorism. (Reuters)
World Leaders on Diplomatic Offensive to Cool Down Middle East
(October 21, 2001)
An international effort is under way to diffuse the escalating conflict
between Israel and Palestinians. The US is calling for an immediate end to
Israeli military actions, charging that they only “complicate” an already
precarious situation. (Business Recorder)
Israel Says Election of Syria Is a 'Bad Joke' (October 10,
2001)
Syria received 160 “yes” votes from the 177 nation-states of the UN General
Assembly to secure a seat on the Security Council. However, the Israeli
government is voicing its discontent claiming that Syria supports 11 terrorist
groups. (Independent)
Arab Nations Demand US Support (October 10, 2001)
If the current surge of violent extremists is to be addressed, the creation of
a Palestinian state must first be granted, claims the Egyptian Foreign
Minister. (This is London)
Palestinian Leaders Scramble to End Rift (October 10, 2001)
As Mr. Bin Ladin has many sympathizers amongst the Palestinians, Yasir Arafat
is taking important risks in using armed force to control some of his own
people. (Arab News)
States Weigh Boycott on Israeli Goods (October 10, 2001)
Led by Syria, 19 representatives of Arab states are meeting in Jordan to
discuss the boycott of firms dealing with Israel. (Ha'aretz)
White House Fury Over Sharon Jibe (October 5, 2001)
Ariel Sharon’s comparison of the current US-Israeli relationship to those
events leading to World War II “when Britain and France stood by while Nazi
Germany dismembered Czechoslovakia” are regarded as “unacceptable” by the
White House. (BBC)
Sea Change in US-Israeli Relations (September 28, 2001)
Changes in geo-political realities in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks
will force the US to distance itself from Israel. (Stratfor)
Vigilantes Take Up Arms, Vow To Expel 'Muslim Filth' (September 4, 2001)
In a controversial article, Jack Kelly of USA Today, describes
Israeli extremists and terrorists and their hatred of Muslims. Mr. Kelly has
received strong condemnation for this article.
Unilateral Seperation (September 4, 2001)
Both Palestinians and Israelis are focusing their attention on how to
cope with sustained conflict. The Israeli side is entertaining a scheme known
as “unilateral separation” which would mean the withdrawal of the Israeli army
from most territories occupied after the 1967 war. (Economist)
Twenty Years On, Sharon Is Up To No Good (June 27, 2001)
Twenty years ago, then-Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon fabricated
stories about Arafat’s links to a terrorist group in order to get a “green
light” from Washington for a major military adventure that culminated with the
Sabra and Chatila massacres. Today, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
appears to be looking for another green light, as he tries to convince US
President Bush of a missile threat in south Lebanon. (Independent)
