Blog

Introduction

The United Nations (UN) has played a significant role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict since its inception in 1945. The UN has been involved in mediating peace talks between the two sides, providing humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees, and overseeing peacekeeping operations in the region. Through this article we’ll try to dive a bit deeper to know things better.

The UN’s involvement in the conflict began in 1947 when the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 181, which called for the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The resolution was accepted by the Jewish community but rejected by the Arab community. This led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, which resulted in the establishment of the State of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

In the aftermath of the war, the United Nations established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

The United Nations has also been involved in mediating peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. In 1967, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242, which called for Israel to withdraw from the territories it had occupied during the Six-Day War in exchange for peace with its Arab neighbors. The resolution also stressed the importance of finding a just and durable solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.

In 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords, which established a framework for peace negotiations. The Oslo Accords were based on a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine existing side-by-side in peace and security.

The United Nations has played a role in overseeing the implementation of the Oslo Accords. In 1994, the United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). UNSCO is responsible for assisting the parties in implementing the Oslo Accords and other peace agreements.

The United Nations has also been involved in peacekeeping operations in the region. In 1973, the United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). UNDOF is responsible for monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights.

In 1978, the United Nations Security Council established UNIFIL, a peacekeeping force in Lebanon, to help maintain peace and stability in the region and to support the Lebanese government in its efforts to assert its authority throughout the country. UNIFIL is responsible for assisting the Lebanese government in maintaining security in southern Lebanon and preventing the recurrence of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.

The United Nations has also been involved in mediating peace talks between Israel and Lebanon. In 2006, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon War and called for the establishment of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

The UN has been criticized for its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some critics argue that the UN has been biased in favor of Israel, while others argue that the United Nations has not done enough to pressure Israel to comply with international law.

Despite the challenges, the UN remains committed to helping resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UN continues to mediate peace talks between the two sides, provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, and oversee peacekeeping operations in the region.

The United Nations’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex and multifaceted. The United Nations has been involved in the conflict since its inception, and it has played a significant role in mediating peace talks, providing humanitarian aid, and overseeing peacekeeping operations. The United Nations’s role in the conflict has been criticized by both sides, but the UN remains committed to helping resolve the conflict.

UN’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Timeline of some of the key events in the United Nations’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

1947

November 29: The UN General Assembly passes Resolution 181, which calls for the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The resolution is accepted by the Jewish community, but rejected by the Arab community.

1948

May 14: The State of Israel is established.

May 15: The Arab-Israeli War begins.

November 4: The UN Security Council passes Resolution 194, which calls for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes and for compensation for those who cannot return.

1949

December 11: The UN General Assembly established the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

1950

April 25: The UN Security Council passes Resolution 50, which establishes the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

1956

October 29: Israel invades Egypt, triggering the Suez Crisis.

November 2: The UN General Assembly passes Resolution 1000, which establishes the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I) to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Egypt.

1967

June 5: The Six-Day War begins.

June 10: The UN Security Council passes Resolution 242, which calls for Israel to withdraw from the territories it had occupied during the Six-Day War in exchange for peace with its Arab neighbors. The resolution also calls for a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem.

1973

October 6: The Yom Kippur War began on October 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

October 22: The United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 338, which calls for a ceasefire and for the implementation of Resolution 242.

1974

November 13: The PLO is granted observer status in the United Nations General Assembly.

1978

March 19: The United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to assist the Lebanese government in maintaining security in southern Lebanon and preventing the recurrence of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.

1993

September 13: Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) sign the Oslo Accords, which establish a framework for peace negotiations.

1994

May 11: The United Nations Security Council established the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

2006

July 12: The 2006 Lebanon War begins.

August 11: The United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 1701, which ends the 2006 Lebanon War and calls for the establishment of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

2012

November 29: The United Nations General Assembly grants Palestine non-member observer state status.

Conclusion

The UN has also been involved in a number of other initiatives related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, such as convening peace conferences and appointing special envoys. However, the UN has been unable to broker a lasting peace agreement between the two sides.

The UN’s role in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has been complex and challenging. The UN has been criticized by both sides, with some arguing that it has been biased in favor of Israel and others arguing that it has not done enough to work toward international legal accountability for Israel’s violations of international law.

Despite the challenges, the UN remains committed to helping resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The UN continues to mediate peace talks between the two sides, provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, and oversee peacekeeping operations in the region.