A two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict has just been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
The bill passed by unanimous decision by the 15-member council, including permanent member the United States. The text made no mention President Donald Trump’s peace initiative. It also failed to relate to Palestinian demands for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital or territorial acquisition of the entire West Bank, encompassing the Jordan Valley and Biblical districts of Judea and Samaria.
According to Belgian Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, “Council members reiterated their support for a negotiated two-state solution, recalling previous relevant UN resolutions and in accordance with international law, where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognized borders.”
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov addressed the UNSC session, where he called for “an immediate stop to the firing of rockets and mortars that only risk dragging Gaza into another round of hostilities with no end in sight.” He then underscored that the “Indiscriminate launching of rockets against civilian population centers violates international law and must end.”
“Overall during the reporting period, over 110 projectiles have been fired from Gaza towards Israeli communities, injuring four people including a woman and a child” detailed the UN envoy. “More than 100 incendiary balloons were released towards Israel, many carrying explosive devices. In response, the IDF has fired 102 missiles against Hamas and PIJ targets in Gaza, injuring 7 Palestinians including 2 children,” he said.
Following the briefing, the Security Council expressed concern over the latest escalation, and urged both Israel and the Palestinians to revive negotiations toward a viable solution to the conflict.