Pacific American School Model United Nations 2023 | XIV Annual Session
Forum:
General Assembly 4 (GA4)
Issue:
The question of Palestinian statehood
Student Officer: Tammy Hsu (AAIA)
Position:
Head Chair
Introduction
By 2015, the Vatican Council, alongside 135 UN members, officially recognized the State of
Palestine. However, a number of countries, specifically the United States of America and Israel, had
objected to recognizing the legitimacy of the statehood of Palestine. Today, the State of Palestine is
officially governed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), marking its territory in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. However, Israel still maintains the overarching authority
over the area of the Gaza Strip as a result of the 1964 Six Day War. This directly affects the statehood of
Palestine as the nation cannot be considered as a state until Palestine can act independently of Israel's
rule. The legitimacy of Palestinian statehood, long upheld by the United Nations General Assembly, was
given additional support by the United Nations Security Council, affirming the international community´s
vision of two States- Israel and Palestine. The main agenda is for the two neighboring states to live side
by side within secure and recognized borders. Currently, in the United Nations the state of Palestine is
currently listed as an observer state instead of a member state in the United Nations due to political
aspects limited by other nations.
Till present day, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding whether or not peace is possible
between Israelis and Palestinians, and how feasible it would be. Today, the international community is
still putting efforts to reconcile the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through small steps, seeking for the best
solutions to the question of Palestinian statehood.
Definition of Key Terms
Statehood
The term “statehood” refers to the status of being a recognized independent nation. According to
the United Nations, the state should possess the following four qualifications: a permanent population, a
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defined territory, an established government, and the capacity to enter relations with the other states. In
1988, the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of
Palestine.
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the legal right for a nation to govern its physical territory with the power to separate
the interferences of other nations. Sovereignty can be categorized into the following sub categories:
titular sovereignty, internal sovereignty, and legal sovereignty. On 29 November 2012, the UN General
Assembly resolution 67/19 passed, upgrading Palestine to "non-member observer state" status in the
United Nations. The change in status was described as "de facto recognition of the sovereign state of
Palestine".
Decolonization
Decolonization is the process by which colonies undo capitalism and gain independence from
colonial power. The United Nations' 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples was a crucial landmark in decolonization.
Occupied Territories
The Occupied Territories, which include the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, are
subject to the jurisdiction of Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israeli-occupied territories are the
lands that were captured and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. The significance of
these occupied territories is that certain legal obligations fall on the occupying power under international
law.
Green line
The Green line was established to delineate the demarcation line between the State of
Israel-controlled territory from the other areas of Palestine (Jerusalem, West Bank & Gaza Strip). The
Green line originally drew boundaries between Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Syria following Israel's 1948
Independence War. However, in 1967, the Six Day War resulted in Israel capturing the West Bank, and
East Jerusalem for Jordan, the Gaza Strip for Egypt, and the Golan Heights for Syria. The Green Line
can also be referred to as the 1967 border, or the 1949 Armistice border.
Gaza Strip
The conflict regarding the legal status of the Gaza Strip’s sovereignty remains unsolved even up
till today. Started as a territorial conflict between Egypt and Israel in WWII followed up with tensions such
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as the Six-Day War and the Arab-Israeli war, the Gaza Strip is now suffering from problems such as
overpopulation from refugees and extreme poverty. The land strip was originally occupied by Israel in
1967, but was later abandoned after Israel withdrew most of its settlements and troops in 2005. The
Oslo Accords allowed for the execution of independence for Palestinian authority for five years, but it
remains partly under Israel’s control.
Background Information
Arab Israeli Conflicts
From the beginning of the mid-20th century, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was mainly surrounded
with one common concern: who gets what land and how it should be controlled. Although both the Jews
and Arab Muslims have dated their claims to the land centuries prior, the current political conflict began
in the early 20th century, which resulted in several outbreaks of wars. Four major wars define the
ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, with nearly every decade of the past 60 years seeing bloodshed. Significant
wars were fought in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982.
The 1948 Arab-Israeli War
The first Arab Israeli War was marked as the 1948 War. It formally began following the end of the
British Mandate for Palestine. Palestine was along former Ottoman territories placed under UK
administration by the League of Nations in 1922. Under Ottoman rule, the inhabitants of Palestine
were Ottoman subjects. The previous Ottoman empire, which now marks both the territory of
Israel and Palestine, was dissolved following the end of World War I. With attempts to seize
control over the area, a military coalition of Arab states entered the territory of British Palestine in
the morning of 15 May. A year prior to the conflict, the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine
was adopted, which states to divide Palestine into an Arab state, a Jewish state, and the Special
International Regime which composed the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The Suez War
The Suez Crisis, or the Second Arab–Israeli war, was the invasion of Egypt initiated by Israel in
late 1956, followed by the United Kingdom and France. The Suez War was also regarded as the
Tripartite Aggression in the Arab War. The purpose of Israel launching the attack was under the
intention of regaining control over the Suez Canal for the Western powers. At the same time, the
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countries had in mind to remove Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, who was responsible
for nationalizing the foreign-owned Suez Canal Company
The Six Days War
The Six Days War, also known as the 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was
fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab States, formed by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.
Regional tensions resulting from poor relations between Israel and its neighboring states
ultimately lead to the build up of this conflict, followed up by the 1949 Armistice Agreements,
which was signed at the end of the First Arab- Israeli War in 1948. Escalating tensions over the
Straits of Tiran was also a factor that led to the Six-Day War. After Israel’s invasion of Egypt in
1956, the Straits of Tiran to Israel was reopened, and the United Nations Emergency Force
(UNEF) deployed along the Egypt–Israel border. As the UNEF was in the process of leaving the
zone on 5 June 1967, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Egyptian airfields, which
marked the beginning of Israel’s attempt of war effort. The area attacked was marked as Egypt's
Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip. By the sixth day of the conflict, Israel had
occupied the entire Sinai Peninsula, despite efforts of neighboring Arab States such as Jordan
and Syria demonstrating defensive efforts. Egypt and Jordan agreed to a ceasefire on 8 Jun,
however, the Six Days War resulted in more than 20,000 Arab casualties, while Israeli only
experienced fewer than 1,000 casualties. By the end of the war, Israel had seized Syria's Golan
Heights, Jordan’s West Bank, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip.
The Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War and Fourth Arab-- Israeli War, was fought
between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria around October 1973. The
majority of the conflict took place in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights—both of which
were occupied by Israel in 1967. Egypt's initial objective in the war was to seize control over the
eastern bank of the Suez Canal and subsequently negotiate the return of the rest of the
Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula.
Key Issues
Holy See–Palestine relations
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In 2015, after the mutual signing of the Comprehensive Agreement, the Holy See and the State of
Palestine established formal diplomatic relations.
The One-state Solution
The one-state Solution, which was also regarded as the bi-national state solution, was approached to
stop the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. According to the solution, one state must be established
between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean. The solution specifically advocated for the
establishment of the single state of Israel- the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Two-state solution
The Two- state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict envisioned an independent state of Palestine
west of the Jordan River, along the State of Israel. This proposed framework was intended to stop
conflicts over the question of Palestinian Statehood. As the framework suggested that there should be
two states, it separates Israel with the Jewish people and Palestine with the Palestinians. Around 1993,
the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed on this solution to
implement a two state solution.
Major Parties Involved and Their Views
Israel
In 1948, after the UN issued Resolution 181, The Jewish state of Israel was established.
However, the decision was faced with strong opposition, leading to a series of conflicts between Israel
and its neighboring countries such as the Sixth Day War and the Arab Israeli War, with overlapping
claims of resources, land, and recognition immediately after its establishment. Although the Israeli
government is generally aware of the establishment of Palestinian statehood, it has refused to accept the
1967 borders till present day. In early August, 2022, the Israeli government launched indiscriminate
airstrikes in Gaza, killing and injuring nearly 400 Palestinians. Around March 2015, former Israel
President Benjamin Netanyahu declared that a Palestinian state would not be established during his
administration. At the same time, he also stated that he disapproved of the one-state solution for the
ongoing conflict between two people. The police were also reported to have used disproportionate forces
against Paelstinians, forcefully removing them from the region.
Palestine
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After World War II, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Partition Plan for Palestine,
which recommended the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states. This Partition Plan was
accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs, which resulted in the break out of a civil war right after
the plan was adopted. As the issue at hand mainly concerns the issue of Palestinian statehood,
Palestine is by all means fighting for a free state of sovereignty free from Israeli oppression. As of 2021,
most Palestinians are actually against the proposal of the two state solution. A poll by the Palestinian
Center for Policy and Survey Research revealed that 59% of the Palestinians believe that the notion of a
two-state solution is impossible. Today, the state of Palestine is officially governed by the Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO). The territory of Palestine marks the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
and the Gaza Strip.
China
On December 8th, 2022, Chinese president Xi Jingping met up with Palestinian president
Mahmoud Abbas. Xi claimed that the two nations have a trustful relationship and will always support
each other. “China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore the
legitimate rights and interests of their nation, and always stands with the Palestinian people.” The two
countries also signed a tourism cooperation document and negotiated for a China-Palestine free trade
agreement. By the time of 2022, the two nations had successfully held the second session of the
Chinese-Palestinian Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, China also provided an abundant amount of COVID supplies such as vaccines to
the Palestinian refugees.
United States
In December 2017, former president Donald Trump’s administration carried out a controversial
Jerusalem recognition, being in favor of Israel. In response, the Palestinian officials said the policy
change “destroys the peace process” and indirectly claimed that the United States was abdicating its role
as a peace mediator between the states. By 2022, the United States does not recognize the State of
Palestine; it only recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the legitimate representative
entity for the Palestinian people. Since the 1960s, political relations between the United States and the
state of Palestine had been conflicting and strained. As the nation does not recognize the state of
Palestine, the U.S. does not maintain any official diplomatic offices in the Palestinian territories and the
Palestinians have had no diplomatic representation in the U.S.
Vatican
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The Vatican Council, alongside 135 UN members, officially recognizes the State of Palestine by
signing the first treaty with Palestine in 2016, calling for “courageous decisions” to end the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backing a two-state solution. The treaty, which made official the Vatican’s
de facto recognition of Palestine since 2012, angered Israel, which called it “a hasty step (that) damages
the prospects for advancing a peace agreement”. Prior to the conflict, the Vatican had contested Israel's
sovereignty over Jerusalem. The Holy See traditionally seeks to safeguard also the Catholic presence in
Jerusalem. Despite their opposing views towards Israel, the Holy See had maintained positive relations
with Palestine (which the Vatican calls the Holy Land) since 11 February 1948 till present day.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
The Palestine Liberation Organization, also known as the PLO, was founded in 1964 during the first Arab
summit in Cairo, where leaders of 13 Arab nations pledged to take a more active role for the “liberation of
Palestine. It is the Palestinian nationalist political organization with the initial purpose of calling for Arab
unity and statehood over the territory of former Mandatory Palestine, in opposition to the State of Israel.
Today, the Palestine Liberation Organization is regarded as the legitimate representative entity for the
Palestinian people, with countries such as the United States only recognizing the organization’s
legitimacy within the pool of Palestinian governmental organizations.
Timeline of Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events
The Ottoman empire
In 1516, the Ottoman Turks invaded and occupied Palestine, an
1516-1832
occupation that lasted for 402 years (1516-1918) until Egypt took over
the authority of Palestine in 1832.
Balfour Declaration
November, 1917
The British Government issued the Balfour Declaration which declared
British support for the creation in Palestine of a "national home for the
Jewish people.”
End of World War I
1918
In 1918, after World War I ended, was the dissolution of the Ottoman
Empire.
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The British Mandate of Palestine
The European states began to divide newly formed regions under the
1918-1948
League of Nations mandates. Mesopotamia and Palestine were allotted
to the British.
Peel Commission
1936–37
The Arab revolt in Palestine the British government formed the Peel
Commission, which recommended the formation of a Jewish and an
Arab state.
St. James Conference
The St. James Conference convened in London, but the Arab
February, 1939
delegation refused to formally meet with its Jewish counterpart or to
recognize them.
Reconstitution of Arab League
November, 1945
The Arab League reconstituted the Arab Higher Committee, comprising
twelve members. They became the supreme executive body of
Palestinian Arabs in the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine.
Formation of UNSCOP
May, 1947
The United Nations created the United Nations Special Committee on
Palestine (UNSCOP) to find an immediate solution to the Palestine
question.
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine
November, 1947
The proposal recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the
end of the British Mandate, which was later adopted by the UN General
Assembly as Resolution 181 (II).
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The 1948 Arab-Israeli War
The Arab countries declared war on the newly formed State of Israel , with
May, 1948
a military coalition of Arab states entering the territory of British
Palestine.
All Palestine Government formed
November, 1948
In Gaza, the All-Palestine Government was formed prior to the war's end in
September 1948. The government declared the independence of the
Palestinian state and Jerusalem as its capital
The Suez War
The Suez Crisis, the Second Arab-Israeli war, was an invasion of Egypt
October, 1956
in late 1956 by Israel.
The Six Days War
The Six Days War, the third Arab-Israeli War, had the purpose of Israel
June, 1967
launching the attack against its Arab neighbors to gain control over the
Suez Canal for the Western powers.
The Yom Kippur War
October, 1973
The Yom Kippur War, the fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought between
Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria around
October 1973.
Declaration of the state
November, 1988
The declaration of a State of Palestine took place in Algiers. It was
approved by the Palestinian National Council (PNC) by a vote of 253 in
favor, 46 against and 10 abstentions.
Palestine’s United Nations membership
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September, 2011
The Palestinian Authority sought to gain recognition as a state
according to its 1967 borders with East Jerusalem from the UN General
Assembly.
Relevant UN Treaties and Events
The UN Partition Plan of Palestine, 29, November 1947 ( A/RES/181(III) )
-
The United Nations Partition Plan for 1947 called for the partition of Palestine into Arab and
Jewish states, with the city of Jerusalem as a corpus separatum (separate entity) . The Assembly
decided to partition Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish, with Jerusalem placed
under a special international regime.
The UN Security Council Resolution 42, 5 March 1948 (S/ RES / 691)
-
The Palestine Question (5 March 1948) requested and called upon permanent member states of
the consul recommendations for the United Nations Palestine Commission called upon the
permanent members of the Council to consult and inform it regarding the situation in Palestine
and to make recommendations to the United Nations Palestine Commission.
The Israeli Unilateral Proclamation of Independence, 14, May 1948
-
Proclaimed 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar 5708) by David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World
Zionist Organization, It declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known
as the State of Israel, which would come into effect on termination of the British Mandate at
midnight that day.
Palestine—Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator, 11 December 1948 (A/RES/194)
-
Resolution 194 calls for the right of Palestinian refugees being allowed to return home at any time
with compensation paid for those who choose not to or can’t do so due to damage to their
property from the government.
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Evaluation of Previous Attempts to Resolve the Issue
Attempt of joining the United Nations
On 15 December 1988, the UN General Assembly acknowledged the Palestinian Declaration of
Independence and replaced the designation "Palestine Liberation Organization" with "Palestine" in the
United Nations system. Around September 2011, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted
an application for membership of Palestine in the United Nations. However, the main argument used
against Palestine’s potential membership was the United States. The US believed that Palestine does
not qualify as a state under international law. Thus, without fully offering membership to Palestine, the
General Assembly instead granted Palestine the non-member observer state status. Till today, only two
non-member States maintain observer missions at U.N. headquarters: Palestine and the Holy See. All
other observer States had eventually become full Members of the United Nations.
2020 Abraham Accord
Recently, Israel has been making attempts to normalize its formal ties with its neighboring Arab
states- with the intention of reconciling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through the Abraham Accord,
Israel established diplomatic relations with Arab States such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain,
Morocco, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar. However, out of all the states, there was no direct
progress between the Israeli and Palestinian diplomatic relations. The most tangible outcomes after the
establishment of the accord include bilateral trade and commerce, yet, previous perceptions of Israel
have not changed among the general Arab public yet.
2020 Palestinian Reconciliation deals
Since the 1974 Arab Summit, The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has been the sole
representative body for Palestine, aiming for Palestinian statehood as its main goal. However, on
October 13, 2022, 14 Palestinian political factions signed a reconciliation deal. The agreement was
significant as developments were made to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) structure,
including plans for presidential and parliamentary elections in the future. This improves the overall
structure of the governing power in Palestine.
Possible Solutions
Summit for Arab States to discuss possible solutions
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For decades, the question of Palestinian statehood has been debated upon while the
international community seeks for the most feasible solution. Although there had been recent strides to
reconcile the Israeli- Palestinian conflict through new accords and deals, there has to be more frequent
summits and joint discussions between the Arab States in order to restore peace. Through discussions,
the States get to propose what is best for their nation and seek help from their neighboring nations. For
example, states get to establish potential bilateral and multilateral policies that benefit all. Together, the
relationship between West Asia Arab countries will progressively move forward.
Clear borders
One of the main issues concerning Palestinian Statehood are the unclear border lines. Although
establishing a superimposed boundary onto the land that have pre-existing ethnic groups (the Arabs and
Jews) might result in ethnic enclaves and lost feelings of nationalism, clear borders are necessary to
help define Palestinian statehood. Without clear recognition of who owns the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, and
West Bank, it would be even more difficult to define Palestinian statehood.
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