The UN, on its 80th birthday in 2025, can mark the occasion by finding a solution to the conflicts in the Middle East, by accepting the State of Palestine as the 194th UN member state. The upcoming UN conference on Palestine, which will be held in June 2025, could be a turning point – a sure, irreversible path to peace in the Middle East. Trump's administration would greatly help American interests, and those of the world, by promoting a two-state solution and a peace agreement in the Middle East, at a conference held in New York in June.
In the midst of Israel's horrific atrocities in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, a small glimmer of hope has emerged. Almost the entire world has united around bilateral cooperation as the key to regional peace. As a result, full cooperation is now available.
The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution that could change (PDF) is the maximum limit. The UNGA calls for an end to the illegal occupation of Israel in 1967 and reaffirms its unwavering support for the two-state solution. Most importantly, this resolution set the stage for the establishment of a Palestinian state at the High-level International Conference (PDF), which will take place in June 2025, at the United Nations.
Imagine how long the Palestinians, and the world, will wait for this moment. In 1947, the UN took responsibility for answering the question of Palestine. By Decision 181 (PDF), the UN General Assembly decided that the state of Palestine should be divided into two independent states – one Jewish and one Arab. The proposed division, unfortunately, was not fair or agreed upon by the parties. It gave 44 percent of the land to the Palestinians even though they were 67 percent of the population. However, before the plan could be reformed and peacefully implemented, Zionist terrorist groups began to purge more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, in what is known as the Nakba, or disaster, of the Palestinian people.
After Israel declared its independence, and defeated its Arab neighbors in war, the UN's chief mediator, Count Folke Bernadotte, tried to revive the bilateral process. However, Bernadotte was killed by Lehi, a Zionist paramilitary organization. Israel signed the Lausanne Protocol of 1949, reviving the bilateral process under the auspices of the UN, but ignored the details. What followed in its place was Israel's 75-year determination to deny the Palestinians their right to a homeland.
For years, the US government, under the leadership of the Israeli lobby, has led the negotiations on fraud. This seems to have involved direct negotiations between the occupying authority and the occupied, non-aligned parties, where Israel's objective has always been to reject an independent Palestinian state. At best, Israel provided “Bantustans,” meaning small Palestinian communities living under Israeli rule. The US-dominated strategy continued from the mid-1970s, including the 1978 Camp David Accords, 1991 Madrid Conference, 1993-1995 Oslo Accords, 2000 Camp David Summit, 2003 Quartet Roadmap for Peaceand 2007 Annapolis Conference. In this mirror system, the Israelis have continuously blockaded the Palestinian state while the US “mediators” continue to blame the Palestinians for their disobedience.
The Trump administration may decide to change the game at the upcoming UN conference – in America's interest, Israel's interest in long-term security, and the Middle East's interest in a peaceful world. The US, then, is the only remaining veto against the Palestinian state. Israel has no veto on the Palestinian state or on peace for that matter. Only the US has that veto.
Yes, Prime Minister Netanyahu has other ideas than peace. He and his coalition continue to have one goal: to reject the Palestinian state by expanding the conquest of Israeli territories, including not only Palestine but also parts of Lebanon and the growing part of Syria.
A new US foreign policy is needed in the Middle East – one that brings peace and not perpetual war. As ordered by a International Court of Justiceand as shown through General AssemblyG20 (PDFBRICS (PDF), League of Arab States (PDF), most people in the world favor bilateral cooperation.
The UN Conference on Palestine is the most important and necessary opportunity, which will open the way for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including seven ways of communication:
- A UN-mandated ceasefire in all war zones, including Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran, and the temporary release of prisoners and prisoners of war in all organizations.
- The recognition of the Palestinian Authority as UN member number 194 on June 4, 1967 with its borders and headquarters in East Jerusalem; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories occupied in 1967, and the simultaneous establishment of international forces controlled by the UN and security guarantees to protect all people.
- The protection of the integrity and stability of the country of Lebanon and Syria, and the complete withdrawal of all non-governmental groups, and the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from other countries.
- Implementation of the revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, and the end of all economic and other sanctions against Iran.
- Abolition, including the repatriation and disarmament of non-governmental organizations, all claims or belligerent states, and respect and recognition of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of each State in the region, (without exception of the ability to follow territorial changes, the preservation of security , and mutual authority that is accepted by independent parties).
- Establishing regional peace and stabilization of diplomatic relations with all Arab and Muslim countries and Israel.
- The establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Fund and the Middle East Sustainable Development Fund to support the reconstruction, economic recovery and sustainable development of the region.
After years of violence and war, the chance for peace is here and now. The UN's efforts to achieve comprehensive peace are our best hope and opportunity for many years to come.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect Al Jazeera's influence.