Calling for an end to “serious breaches” of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the peacekeeping United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another six months and urged Lebanon to deploy an adequate number of security forces along the so-called Blue Line between the two countries. Acting on the recommendations of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution that continued the operation until 31 July. UNIFIL was established in 1978 to confirm the withdrawal of Israelis troops from its northern neighbour, restore international peace and security and help the Lebanese Government regain its authority over the area. Read more about Mandate of UN force in southern Lebanon extended until July
The United Nations Security Council today welcomed the recent Palestinian Presidential election, and congratulated the Palestinian people “who demonstrated their commitment to democracy by participating in the election under challenging conditions”. Reading out a consensus statement following a briefing on the situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine, Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Antonio Biélsa, whose country holds the Council’s presidency for the month, said members of the 15-nation body commended the credible and fair character of the 9 January vote, and paid tribute the Central Elections Commission, which had played a key role in ensuring the successful conclusion of the ballot. Read more about Security Council hears briefing on Middle East, congratulates Palestinians with recent elections
The UN Committee on Special Political and Decolonization (also known as the Fourth Committee) decided this afternoon to defer action on nine draft resolutions — four relating to the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and five on Israeli practices in Arab territories occupied since 1967. It made that decision at the request of the representative of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of the European Union and associated States, and the observer for Palestine. The introduction of the texts followed in-depth consideration of the report by UNRWA’s Commissioner-General as well as that of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices. Read more about EU delays action on nine draft resolutions on Palestine
In the past month, there had been no tangible progress towards resuming the peace process in the Middle East; violence had continued to claim innocent lives; neither side had taken adequate steps to protect civilians; and both were in breach of their international legal obligations, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast told the Security Council this morning. Israel, as the occupying Power, had obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and not to destroy their property unless that was rendered absolutely necessary by military operations, he continued. The scale of destruction of Palestinian property by the Israeli military raised concerns about collective punishment. Read more about No tangible progress made towards resuming peace process, Security Council told
The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People welcomes the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 9 July 2004 which states that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and its associated regime are contrary to international law. It found that the construction of the wall severely impeded the exercise by the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination. Read more about Bureau of Palestinian Rights Committee welcomes advisory opinion by International Court of Justice
If the proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza were implemented in the right way, it would open up an unprecedented opportunity for progress towards peace, Terje Roed-Larsen, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council this morning. There had been no tangible progress related to the parties’ implementation of their commitments under the Road Map, he stated. There were only two options: “Either we act, all the time, patiently and tirelessly, trying to find a way out of this conflict. Or we sit and watch as more people bleed. The choice is for each of us to make.” Read more about UN Envoy: Palestinian Authority's paralysis has become abundantly clear
Concrete action on the situation in the Middle East was urged here today by participants at the two-day International Media Seminar on peace in the region, organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) — the twelfth of its kind since 1991, in response to General Assembly resolution 58/57. While everything was said to be “on the table” — Security Council resolutions, the Road Map, the Geneva Initiative — what was said by many speakers to be needed now was “action on the ground”. “Let’s do it in the Middle East; let’s do it, and let’s do it now”, became the theme during a wide-ranging debate on the conflict. Read more about "Concrete Action" urged at International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East
The role of civil society in promoting a just and lasting peace in the Middle East will be the subject of an international media seminar organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, on 16 and 17 June. The two-day meeting will bring together present and former policy makers from Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, civil society representatives, senior United Nations officials, international experts and representatives of the media. This seminar, the twelfth in a series, will provide a forum for seminar participants to discuss ways and means of promoting a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Read more about UN to co-host media seminar on peace in the Middle East
A two-day conference hosted by the Swiss Government and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East opened this morning in Geneva to address the humanitarian needs of 4 million Palestinian refugees and to come up with the best practical solutions to attend to these needs. In his opening remarks, Peter Hansen, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said that the gathering was a testimony of the international community to the growing needs of the Palestinian refugees and was being held at an historic moment. The conference was an opportunity for participants to work together on addressing key humanitarian aspects of the Palestinian refugees. Read more about Conference on humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees opens in Geneva
