UN and the stalled two-state solution for Palestine and Israel
While Israel accepted the resolution, Arab states and Palestinians rejected it, leading to war and the displacement of 760,000 Palestinians—an event known as the Nakba, or 'catastrophe.'
In 1967, after the Six-Day War, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242, calling for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories.
However, ambiguities in the resolution's wording left its implementation unclear.
By 1974, the UN General Assembly recognized Palestinian self-determination and granted the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) observer status.
The 1993 Oslo Accords, brokered outside the UN, marked a significant peace effort, establishing Palestinian autonomy and the Palestinian Authority.
Yet, UN decisions on Palestine have often hinged on U.S. influence. Since 1972, the U.S. has vetoed over 30 resolutions to shield Israel, though it occasionally abstains, as seen in 2016 when the Security Council condemned Israeli settlements.
In 2011, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas sought full UN membership, but U.S. opposition stalled the bid.
Instead, the General Assembly granted Palestine 'non-member observer state' status in 2012. A renewed 2024 membership push was again blocked by a U.S. veto.
Despite this, 142 UN members recognize Palestine, and recent Assembly rulings have expanded Palestinian participation rights. - AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Israeli settlers attack West Bank Christian village: PA
TEL AVIV: Israeli settlers attacked the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, torching cars and spray-painting threatening graffiti, the Palestinian Authority said Monday. "Israeli colonial settlers launched a terror attack tonight on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh (Ramallah), setting fire to Palestinian vehicles and spray-painting racist threats in Hebrew on homes and property", the Ramallah-based authority wrote on X. A Taybeh resident, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, told AFP the attack occurred at about 2am (2300 GMT), with at least two vehicles burned. They said one vehicle belonged to a journalist, while noting the damage appeared to target Palestinian property broadly. A photo shared by a Palestinian government agency on X showed graffiti on a Taybeh wall that read: "Al-Mughayyir, you will regret", referring to a nearby village that was also attacked by settlers earlier this year. The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it "settler terrorism." Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also condemned it, writing on X: "These extremist settlers may claim that God gave them the land. But they are nothing but criminals abhorrent to any faith." Taybeh and its surroundings have experienced several bouts of settler violence in recent months, including an arson attack at an ancient Byzantine church. The village – home to about 1,300 mostly Christian Palestinians, many holding US dual citizenship – is known for its brewery, the oldest in the Palestinian territories. Settlers have attacked neighbouring communities in recent months, resulting in three deaths, damage to Palestinian water wells and the displacement of at least one rural herding community. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians and around 700,000 Israeli settlers, including about 200,000 in east Jerusalem. Last week, 71 members of Israel's 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, passed a motion calling on the government to annex the West Bank.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Israeli settlers attack Christian village in West Bank, burn cars
TAYBEH: Israeli settlers launched an attack on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, burning cars and spray-painting threatening graffiti, according to the Palestinian Authority. The incident occurred early Monday, escalating tensions in the region. The Ramallah-based authority stated on X, 'Israeli colonial settlers launched a terror attack tonight on the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh (Ramallah), setting fire to Palestinian vehicles and spray-painting racist threats in Hebrew on homes and property.' A local resident, speaking anonymously, confirmed the attack took place around 2:00 am, with at least two vehicles destroyed. One of the burned cars reportedly belonged to a journalist, suggesting a broader targeting of Palestinian property. Graffiti left on a wall in Taybeh read, 'Al-Mughayyir, you will regret,' referencing a nearby village previously attacked by settlers. The Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry condemned the violence, labelling it 'settler terrorism.' Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also denounced the attack, stating on X, 'These extremist settlers may claim that God gave them the land. But they are nothing but criminals abhorrent to any faith.' Taybeh, home to around 1,300 mostly Christian Palestinians—many with US dual citizenship—has faced repeated settler violence, including an arson attack on a historic Byzantine church. The village is also known for its brewery, the oldest in the Palestinian territories. Recent months have seen increased settler aggression in the West Bank, resulting in fatalities, damaged water wells, and displaced herding communities. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, with approximately 700,000 settlers now living among three million Palestinians. Last week, 71 members of Israel's Knesset passed a motion urging the government to annex the West Bank, further heightening tensions. – AFP
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Israel: 120 aid trucks reached Gaza on first day of tactical pause
JERUSALEM: Israel said Monday that more than 120 truckloads of food aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies in the Gaza Strip on the first day of a promised limited break in fighting. On Sunday, Israel declared a "tactical pause" in military operations in part of Gaza and promised to open secure routes for aid, urging humanitarian groups to step up food distribution. "Over 120 trucks were collected and distributed yesterday by the UN and international organisations," said COGAT, an Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories. "An additional 180 trucks entered Gaza and are now awaiting collection and distribution, along with hundreds of others still queued for UN pickup," COGAT said in a post on X. Separately, Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have conducted parachute air drops of smaller quantities of aid. More than two million Palestinians live in Gaza and, before the eruption of the latest 21-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, it took roughly 500 trucks per day of commercial trade and humanitarian aid to supply the territory. In recent weeks UN agencies have been warning of a life-threatening famine as aid supplies dry up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation. Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points. "More consistent collection and distribution by UN agencies and international organisations equals more aid reaching those who need it most in Gaza," COGAT said.--AFP
