Postponed UN conference on two-state solution between Israel, Palestinians rescheduled for July 28, 29 –diplomats

Postponed UN conference on two-state solution between Israel, Palestinians rescheduled for July 28, 29 –diplomats

The United Nations has rescheduled its conference on the two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians for July 28 and 29, according to diplomats. The original date was set for June 10, but it was postponed due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. The conference was expected to discuss the future of Gaza and the possibility of a Palestinian state.

The ceasefire talks in Gaza resumed immediately after the end of hostilities between Iran and Israel. However, there is no agreement on the future of Gaza, not even among Palestinian factions themselves. This lack of consensus has made it difficult for Israel, its Arab neighbors, international organizations, and various Palestinian movements to determine who should govern Palestinian territory after the removal of Hamas.

Most members of the international community agree that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based on the principle of “two states for two peoples.” Currently, the State of Palestine is recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states, with more countries expressing interest in joining the list. Recognition was expected to be announced at the UN conference in New York, but it was postponed due to the war in Iran.

The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, stated that Washington had lost its belief in the two-state formula and that the creation of a Palestinian state is no longer a goal of U.S. policy. Despite this, several countries may soon be prepared to proceed with unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state.

The UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, told members of Parliament that London’s position is shifting due to the lack of progress in peace talks. France holds a similar position, and the Arab countries that have weighed in on the matter also agree that the terrorist group Hamas must go. Hamas has stated its readiness to return authority in the Strip to the official Palestinian leadership, but many questions remain about the fate of Hamas’s armed forces and other groups that do not recognize Israel.

Recognizing the State of Palestine could have significant implications for the international community. It could pressure Israel to change its policies and challenge its occupation of Palestinian territories. However, it could also risk endorsing the existence of multiple terrorist organizations linked to the Palestinian cause and further corruption within the Palestinian Authority.

The UN General Assembly took note of the proclamation of the State of Palestine in 1988, and in 2012, Palestine was granted non-member observer state status at the United Nations. In April 2015, it joined the International Criminal Court and brought forward allegations of war crimes committed by Israel in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority. In February 2021, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber ruled by majority that the Court has jurisdiction to investigate the situation in Palestine.

The conference in July aims to address these issues and provide a path forward for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the ongoing conflict and the lack of consensus among the parties involved make the situation complex and uncertain.

References:
[1] https://theins.ru/en/politics/282857