Historical Security Council
VMUN 2016 Background Guide
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VANCOUVER MODEL UNITED NATIONS
the fifteenth annual conference | January 22-24, 2016
Dear Delegates,
Jake Hauser
Secretary-General
Jason Liu
Director-General
Andrew Tsai
Chief of Staff
Claudia Wang
USG General Assemblies
Chris Pang
USG Committees
Alvin Tsuei
USG Delegate Affairs 1
Eva Zhang
USG Delegate Affairs 2
Ashley Ng
USG Conference
Evan Johnson
USG Finance
Isabelle Cheng
USG Sponsorship
Sunny Cui
USG Marketing
Historical Security Council
My name is William Guo and it is my honour to welcome you to the
Historical Security Council at VMUN 2016, and I will be serving as your
director for the duration of the conference. Throughout my years of
experience in MUN, I have found the fast-paced, politically charged
committees to be most exciting and engaging. With our experience in
mind, we, the dais, have worked hard to create what we hope will be an
unforgettable experience for MUN beginners and veteran delegates alike
at HSC VMUN 2016.
Historical SC is a little different from most committees here at VMUN
2016 in that we revisit a historical event through a lens of revisionism. In
HSC, delegates are given the opportunity to recreate history, and
perhaps right the wrongs of the past. I encourage all of you to familiarize
yourselves with the topic, keeping in mind the historical context of the
event.
The topic you will be discussing is the Six Day War, a brief outburst of
conflict between Israel and its surrounding Arab states in mid-1967.
This landmark conflict marked a shift in regional and international
politics, and defined the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict for decades to
come. It will be up to the delegates to decide whether they will follow the
course of history, or forge a new path to avoid history’s mistakes.
This will not be an easy task; the crisis you face is a highly complex,
controversial, and violent, with no clear end in sight. History has tried,
and failed, to establish a lasting peace in the region. Now, the Middle
East finds itself on the verge of war once again. Now is no longer the
time to sit back and spectate. Now is the time for delegates to cooperate
towards the goal of establishing a peace that will withstand the test of
time.
The amount of information might seem daunting, so please do not
hesitate to contact me if you have any questions! I look forward to
meeting all of the delegates in January, and observing what is sure to be
an exciting and rewarding weekend of debate.
Best regards,
William Guo
Historical Security Council Director | VMUN 2016
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Historical Security Council
Position Paper Policy
What is a Position Paper?
A position paper is a brief overview of a country’s stance on the topics being discussed by a particular
committee. Though there is no specific format the position paper must follow, it should include a
description of your positions your country holds on the issues on the agenda, relevant actions that
your country has taken, and potential solutions that your country would support.
At Vancouver Model United Nations, delegates should write a position paper for each of the
committee’s topics. Each position paper should not exceed one page, and should all be combined into a
single document per delegate.
For the Historical Security Council, position papers are mandatory, especially for a delegate to be
considered for an award.
Formatting
Position papers should:
— Include the name of the delegate, his/her country, and the committee
— Be in a standard font (e.g. Times New Roman) with a 12-point font size and 1-inch document
margins
— Not include illustrations, diagrams, decorations, national symbols, watermarks, or page borders
— Include citations and a bibliography, in any format, giving due credit to the sources used in
research (not included in the 1-page limit)
Due Dates and Submission Procedure
Position papers for this committee must be submitted by midnight on January 8th, 2016.
Once your position paper is complete, please save the file as your last name, your first name and send it
as an attachment in an email, to your committee’s email address, with the subject heading as your last
name, your first name — Position Paper. Please do not add any other attachments to the email or write
anything else in the body.
Both your position papers should be combined into a single PDF or Word document file; position
papers submitted in another format will not be accepted.
Each position paper will be manually reviewed and considered for the Best Position Paper award.
The email address for this committee is [email protected].
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Table of Contents
The Six Day War ............................................................................................................................. 5 Overview .....................................................................................................................................................5 Timeline ......................................................................................................................................................6 Historical Analysis .....................................................................................................................................8 Current Situation .................................................................................................................................... 10 Issues to be addressed............................................................................................................................. 11 Right of Return ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Right of Existence........................................................................................................................................ 11 Border Disputes ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Unresolved Hostility ................................................................................................................................... 12 Soviet Information, UNEF Expulsion, and Troop Buildup................................................................... 12 Blockade ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Past UN/International Involvement ..................................................................................................... 12 Possible Solutions and Controversies................................................................................................... 14 Historical Solution ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Palestine Membership ................................................................................................................................ 14 Security Concerns ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Bloc Positions .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Israel .............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Western Bloc ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Arab Bloc ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 The Soviet Union ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Discussion Questions ............................................................................................................................. 15 Additional Sources .................................................................................................................................. 16 References ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Historical Security Council
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Historical Security Council
The Six Day War
Overview
Figure 1: Territory held by Israel before and after the Six Day War. The Straits of Tiran are circled.
The history of conflict in the Palestine area has lasted longer than the United Nations itself. For
centuries, the two hostile groups have been embroiled in territorial disputes over holy cities, such as
Jerusalem, that carry great symbolic meaning for both Jewish Israelis and Muslim Arabs. From its
inception as a state in 1948, Israel’s settlement in the West Bank has been a catalyst for expanding the
conflict in the area. The Six Day War was simply one of many clashes between Israel and Palestine in
the seemingly endless conflict. The real underlying conflict of the region extends far before the violent
eruption of battle in 1967.
In 1947, following the horrific events of the Holocaust, the newly formed United Nations General
Assembly created a committee (United Nations Special Committee on Palestine) to examine what
exactly to do with Palestine. The UNSCOP recommended to the General Assembly that “Palestine
within its present borders, following a transitional period of two years from September 1, 1947, shall be
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constituted into an independent Arab State, an independent Jewish State, and the City of Jerusalem”1.
Furious, the Arabs in the nearby towns began shooting, stoning, and rioting in the streets of Tel-Aviv
almost as soon as the Resolution creating the partition was approved. Soon after Israel came into
existence, it found itself at war with its neighbours in 1948. The Arab-Israeli War of 1948 only served
to further entrench Israel’s power in the region, as it expanded its borders past the provisions of the
UN partition.2
Relations between Israel and the Arab states had never been fully normalized following the 1948 ArabIsraeli War, and the tensions in the period leading up to 1967 became dangerously heightened.
Following a decade of relative calm, Israel once again found itself poised for war against its Arab
neighbours3. The Six Day War was a brief period of violent conflict between Israel and its
neighbouring Arab states of Jordan, Syria, and Egypt in 1967. According to military analysts, the Six
Day War was to be a one-sided fight for the Arab coalition. The joint forces of Jordan, Egypt, and Syria,
backed by various other Arab allies far outnumbered the Israeli forces, and boasted staggering amounts
of high-tech weaponry4. Following the Egyptian mobilization of forces along its border, Israel launched
a series of pre-emptive attacks on Egyptian airfields, giving the Israelis air superiority5. The violent
outburst lasted for a total of six days, concluding with Israel’s decisive victory and acquisition of huge
tracts of territory6, including the highly disputed Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and
Jerusalem.
Timeline
1955 - 241 Israelis killed by Palestinian terrorists originating from Egyptian territory and 37 Israelis
killed by terrorists originating from Jordanian territory.
Oct. 29, 1956 - The infamous Suez Crisis: Israeli leadership grows increasingly weary of aggression
from the Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip as well as Egypt's attempts to block Israeli shipping in the
Suez Canal. Egyptian President Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal on July 26, 1956. Britain, which
owns nearly half of the Suez Canal Company, seeks to prevent the nationalization by joining with
France and Israel. Israel attacks the Sinai Peninsula, which in turn allowed Britain and France to
condemn the fighting and demand that both sides withdraw from the region. The United States calls
for a cease-fire in November 1956. A UN peacekeeping force occupies the area in March 1957 and
reopens the canal on April 24, 1957.
Nov 18, 1959 - Israel begins work on the National Water Carrier Project, taking its share of Jordanian
water in accordance with American President Johnson’s plan.
Jan 13-17 1964 - Arab (Egypt, Syria, Jordan) heads of state meet in Cairo to counter Israel’s national
water carrier project. Arabs declare their intentions of stopping the Israeli diversion scheme, and a
Unified Arab force under Egyptian command is created.
May 1964 - PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) founded with the aim of destroying Israel. The
Palestinian National Charter (1968) officially called for the destruction and liquidation of Israel.
1
United Nations, General Assembly, Report to the General Assembly, A/364
Baylis Thomas (1999) How Israel Was Won: A Concise History of the Arab–Israeli Conflict
3
Miracles of the Six Day War. (n.d.). Chabad
4
Ibid.
5
Six-Day War | Middle East [1967]. (2015). Brittanica Online Encyclopedia
6
Ibid.
2
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June 5, 1964 - Israel begins pumping water from the Sea of Galilee. Israel vehemently declares to take
only its share of water allotted under the Johnston plan, with the implicit agreement of Jordan.
Sept 13, 1964 - Second Arab Summit decides on diversion of the headwaters of the Jordan as well as
the strengthening of regional Arab armies. Arabs declare the aim of destroying Israel. Israel responds
by addressing two notes to the UNSC, declaring their anxiety.
Jan. 2, 1965 - Al Fatah (Palestinian terrorist group) carries out first sabotage in Israel against the Israel
water project.
1965 - Syrian water diversion project begins as Syrians fire on Israeli demilitarized zones. Israel
retaliates and bombards earth-moving equipment of the diversion project.
Sept. 18. 1965 - Third Arab Summit at Casablanca. Arab League agrees on plan to combat Israel, first
building up armed forces in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon over the next 3 years, then proceeding to war.
Nov 13, 1965 - After Syria fires on Israeli patrol, the IAF bombs Syrian diversion project in retaliation.
Four Israelis killed, 100+ dead Syrians.
Feb. 23, 1966 - New Syrian Baathist regime sets destruction of Israel as primary goal.
Nov 9, 1966 – Egypt and Syria sign defense treaty, promising that Egypt would attack Israel in the
south if Israel attacked Syria.
Nov 10, 1966 - Three Israeli soldiers are killed by a land mine on an Israeli patrol road near the border.
King Hussein sends an apology via US Ambassador Walworth Barbour, but Barbour fails to deliver the
apology.
Nov 13, 1966 - Israeli troops take action to prevent further attacks from Palestinians in West Bank and
Jordan. The operation called for minimal strikes against Palestinian villages in Samu, but Israeli forces
unexpectedly encounter Jordanian soldiers, killing 15. UN Security Council Resolution 228 censures
Israel, but Jordan does not respond militarily. Palestinians living in West Bank and Jordan are outraged
and clash with Jordanian security forces throughout West Bank.
Dec 14, 1966 - Egyptian Marshal Hakim Amer cables Nasser from Pakistan, in recommending the
closing the straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping and dismissing the UN Peacekeeping (UNEF) force from
Gaza.
Jan - March 1967 - Close to 300 “border incidents” occur, increasing tension in the area.
April 7, 1967 - Israelis respond to intensive Syrian shelling of demilitarized zones and Israeli villages
with IAF attack.
May 11, 1967 - Israeli PM Eshkol states, "In view of the 14 incidents in the past month alone it is
possible that we will have to adopt measures no less drastic than those of April 7." The incidents
included shelling, terror attacks and attempted infiltration of a Syrian agent to blow up locations in
Jerusalem.
May 14, 1967 - First reports of Egyptian troop movements into Sinai.
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May 18, 1967 - Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser orders the United Nations Peacekeeping
Emergency Force to leave Sinai and surrounding regions.
May 23, 1967 - Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser closes the straits of Tiran to Israeli shipments.
Egypt moves approximately 130,000 soldiers into Sinai. Negotiations with US to reopen the Straits of
Tiran fail.
May 27, 1967 - Nasser cancels a planned Egyptian attack on Israel (Operation Fair Dawn), planned for
following day, after it became obvious that the Israelis knew about the plan.
May 28, 1967 - Israeli Levi Eshkol broadcasts a hesitant, stammering speech, further exacerbating
pressure on him to make way for other leaders. Later it is claimed that the stammering was due to
problems in reading the manuscript.
May 30, 1967 - Jordan signs a defense pact with Egypt, allows Egyptian command of Jordan Legion.
May 31, 1967 - President Abdur Rahman Aref of Iraq states "The existence of Israel is an error which
must be rectified. This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy, which has been with us since 1948.
Our goal is clear - to wipe Israel off the map.
Jun 2, 1967 - Moshe Dayan joins Israeli cabinet as Minister of Defense. Coalition government formed.
Reservists released for furlough before outbreak of the war.
Historical Analysis
Figure 2: Israeli soldiers in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
The roots of the bitter animosity can be traced back to the late 19th century, with the rise of nationalist
movements such as Zionism and Arab nationalism. The Jewish population of Europe, in the face of
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widespread persecution, began to discuss the return of the Jewish people to Zion, their homeland7.
Thus began the Zionist movement. This movement called for an establishment of a nation state in
Palestine for the Jewish people, which would serve as a haven for the Jewish people of the world.
During World War I, Britain captured parts of the Ottoman Empire, including the Palestine region.
Based on the context of the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the League of Nations assigned the Mandate
for Palestine to Britain, which included all of the land which is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza
Strip, as well as all of the territory East of the Jordan River now known as the Kingdom of Jordan8. The
vast land area housed a relatively small population of fewer than 1 million inhabitants. It was in this
vast, underpopulated area that the British proposed in the 1917 Balfour Declaration to “favour the
establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, but that nothing should be done to
prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.”9 Open
Jewish immigration was encouraged, much to the chagrin of Arabs living in Palestine, who started
violent insurrections against the Jews and against British rule in the 1920s and 1930s10. In response,
the Zionists living in Palestine established self-defense organizations such as the Haganah, which
carried out reprisal attacks against the Arabs11. This signified the beginning of the decades long
modern Arab-Israeli conflict.
The decades that followed were marked by perpetual violence against the Jews, both in the Middle East
and in Europe. The Arabs of Palestine launched an endless jihad against the Jews, prompting the
British to send a royal commission to investigate the situation. From this investigation, Zionists, led by
Chaim Weizmann pushed for a partition of the land into two separate entities, “even if the territory
assigned to the Jews were the size of a tablecloth”12. The Peel Commission’s final report in 1937
proposed exactly that, granting the Zionists a tract of land that was approximately 20% the size of the
remaining mandate territory, from Tel-Aviv up to the north of the country. The Palestinian Arabs were
offered 80% of the territory to create their own state.13 Reluctantly, the Zionists accepted the
Commission’s partition plan. However, it was opposed by the Arabs, who pressed on in an armed
revolt against the mandate. Under increased Arab pressure, Britain severely limited Jewish
immigration to Palestine in 1937 after proposals to divide the area into two states were rejected. This
limitation left Jews fleeing persecution in Nazi occupied countries without a place to flee to.
Like many of its fellow Western countries, Great Britain closed its doors to Jewish immigration during
and even after the Second World War, due to internal feelings of anti-Semitism. Increasing protests
against this policy and incompatible demands by both the Zionists and the Arabs made the situation
untenable for the British14. They relinquished control of the mandate territory, returning its control to
the successor of the League of Nations, the United Nations. The UN hoped to resolve the conflict by
creating yet another commission (The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine). The
Committee recommended another two-state solution which would see the territory divided almost
equally between the Jews and Arabs, along with an economic union between the two states. However,
it would soon become clear that this plan would not work due to the mutual antagonism between the
two peoples.15
7
Zionism. (2015). Brittanica Online Encyclopedia
The Arab-Israeli Conflict. (2008). Israel-Palestina Informatie
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Siegel, F. (2011, September 22). A Century of Palestinian Rejectionism.
13
Peel Commission. (n.d.). Brittanica Online Encyclopedia
14
Ibid.
15
Ibid.
8
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After the proposal was adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 1947, the conflict escalated.
As a result, the outraged Palestinian Arabs attacked Jewish communities throughout Palestine and
instituted a blockade on Jerusalem, prompting Zionists to attack and destroy several Palestinian
villages. The Arab League openly declared that it aimed to block the establishment of a Jewish state by
force. A day after the declaration of the state of Israel (May 14, 1948) Arab troops from neighbouring
countries invaded the area. Initially, the Arab invaders held a distinct advantage, with better weaponry
and more troops. However, their initial momentum faded after the first ceasefire was called, which
both sides used to improve their positions in violation of the UN declaration. It was during this time
that the newly established IDF was trained with the resolve of fighting off their invaders. Due to better
organization and intelligence, the Zionists ultimately won their War of Independence. 16
Under the terms of an armistice signed by the belligerent parties of the 1948 War, Israel was to control
approximately 78% of the mandate area. Jerusalem was now divided with the Old City controlled by
Jordan, with a tiny Jewish enclave in the Jordan territory. A majority (the UN estimates about
700,000)17 of Palestinian Arabs living in the territory now under Israeli control were expelled, and
about 900,000 Jews living in Arab countries were also expelled and relocated to Israel, France, and the
United States. While most of these Jewish refugees started new lives in their respective countries, the
Arab countries refused to house Palestinian Arab refugees, claiming that Arab refugees had the right to
return to Israel. Israel rejected this notion, maintaining that the right to return policy would lead to an
Arab majority in Israel. The question of whether or not Arabs do have a “right to return” is the first
major obstacle to resolving the conflict.18
Current Situation
The Arab-Israeli conflict persisted as Arab countries refused to acknowledge the existence of Israel and
instigated a boycott on Israel. Animosity continued to grow among Arabs, aiding the creation of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. After its formation in 1964, the organization launched over 100
attacks19 on Israeli civilians. During 1965 and 1966, the Syrian army shelled the Golan Heights after
Israel created the National Water Carrier20. The Security Council failed to act or even denounce the
attack following a veto from the Soviet Union. Israel retaliated against the event, prompting Syria to
call upon Egypt to honour their mutual defense treaty. In the spring of 1967, Syrian and Egyptian
forces amassed on the Israeli border, while UNEF forces withdrew as per Egypt’s requests. The joint
forces took up positions overlooking the Straits of Tiran, a vital shipping route for Israel. Israel
reiterated declarations made in 1957 that any closure of the Straits would be considered an act of war,
and Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser closed the Straits to Israeli shipping on May 22.21 For the
purposes of this committee, this is where the events of the topic will begin.
16
The Arab-Israeli Conflict. (2008). Israel-Palestina Informatie
United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights, October 23, 1950, A/1367/Rev.1
18
The Arab-Israeli Conflict. (2008). Israel-Palestina Informatie
19
The Six-Day War. (n.d.). Jewish Virtual Library.
20
Ibid.
21
Ibid
17
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Figure 3: An Israeli ship passes through the Straits of Tiran during the 1967 Six Day War
Issues to be addressed
Right of Return
Since the 1948 War, almost a million Arab refugees were expelled from their homes into refugee
camps. Today, we find that there are estimated hundreds and thousands of Arab residents living on the
border between Israel and Jordan. Undoubtedly, many of them will flee, or worse, be expelled to
neighbouring areas should a war arise. There is the question of where these refugees will relocate.
Neither side accepts responsibility for providing refuge to these displaced peoples. For Israel, granting
refugees a right to return would upset the balance of Israel as a Jewish state, while Arab states assert
that refugees have a right to return to their homes in the captured territory. The question of what
should be done on the issue of the refugees will likely be shifted to the UN to provide aid to refugees.
Right of Existence
No Arab state currently recognizes Israel as a sovereign state. Speaking to the General Assembly in
1964, Nasser said that “We swear to God that we shall not rest until we restore the Arab nation to
Palestine and Palestine to the Arab nation. There is no room for imperialism and there is no room for
Britain in our country, just as there is no room for Israel within the Arab nation." In 1965 he asserted,
"We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand, we shall enter it with its soil saturated in
blood.”22 Even two decades after its founding, no Arab state is willing to negotiate a peace agreement
with Israel, because doing so would mean acknowledging its right to exist.
Border Disputes
General Assembly Resolution 18123 called for a two-state solution back in 1948, and has been
supported by the international community ever since. However, after several wars, there is much
22
23
Ibid.
General Assembly Resolution 181, Future Government of Palestine, A/RES/181
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dispute and controversy over where the lines should be drawn. Neither side can come to an agreement
on how, or if, the land should be divided. In addition, some Israelis have settled in what is considered
occupied Palestine24. This will likely be a very contentious point of debate among delegates that must
be resolved if any lasting solution to conflict is to be found.
Unresolved Hostility
The Suez Crisis of 1956 represented a military defeat but political victory for Egypt, and set the stage
for a conflict leading up to the Six Day War. Following the war, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion said
in a speech to the Knesset that the 1949 armistice agreement with Egypt was no longer valid, and that
under no circumstances would Israel agree to the stationing of UN forces along its borders or in any
territory it occupied. 25 It was only under heavy diplomatic pressure from the United States and Soviet
Union that forced Israel into a conditional withdrawal of its military from the Sinai Peninsula. As a
result, the border between Israel and Egypt remained relatively quiet up until 1967, but none of the
underlying issues had been addressed.
Soviet Information, UNEF Expulsion, and Troop Buildup
Israeli leaders had repeatedly threatened to invade Syria if Palestinian guerilla actions across the border
did not cease.26 In May of 1967, Soviet officials informed Egypt that Israel had begun amassing troops
on the Syrian border and was planning to invade. Nasser reacted by sending troops into the Sinai, and
Syria followed suit. They believed that the presence of troops in the area would deter Israel from
attacking Syria.27 Israel responded by deploying its own troops along the border. However, there was
still one major obstacle that Nasser had to overcome in order to honor its mutual defense treaty with
Syria. Since the 1956 Suez Crisis, UNEF troops had been stationed on the Egyptian side of the EgyptIsraeli border to ensure that both sides honored the 1949 armistice boundaries. On May 16, Nasser
asked the UN to remove the UNEF from the Sinai. Once they were gone, Nasser declared that he
would close the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, which President Lyndon B. Johnson later
determined to be the casus belli of the war.28
Blockade
On May 22, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to “all ships flying Israeli flags or carrying strategic
materials”. 29 This cut off Israel’s only supply route with Asia and stopped the flow of oil from its main
supplier, Iran. In 1956, the United States acknowledged Israel’s rights to access the Straits of Tiran, an
assurance that was backed by 17 UN maritime nations a year later. The blockade violated the
Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, which was adopted by the UN Conference on
the Law of the Sea in 1958.30 US President Lyndon B. Johnson viewed the blockade as illegal and
unsuccessfully attempted to organize a flotilla to test it.
Past UN/International Involvement
24
Land and Settlement Issues. (n.d.). Global Policy Forum
1956: Suez and the End of Empire. (2001). The Guardian
26
Egypt: A Country Study. (n.d.). U.S. Library of Congress
27
Ibid.
28
Ibid.
29
Egypt Closes Gulf of Aqaba To Israel Ships. (1967). The Times
30
United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. (1958). UN Publications
25
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Figure 4: The UN Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) meets to deliberate the “Palestinian question”
*key points are bolded
The United Nations has been both a mediator and an instigator in the complicated international
process that led to the partitioning of the Palestine region.31 Following the end of the Second World
War, the General Assembly resolved for a special committee (United Nations Special Committee on
Palestine) to be created “to prepare for consideration at next regular session of the Assembly to report
on the question on Palestine”. The members of this committee consisted of Australia, Canada,
Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, India, Iran, Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia. In the
final report delivered on September 3, 194732, seven of the committee voted in favour of a partition
plan with an economic union. This plan paved the way for Resolution 181, passed in November of the
same year, recommending the adoption of exactly such a plan.33 This resolution was celebrated in the
streets of Jewish cities, but rejected by the Arab Palestinians, who brought expressed their grievances
violently, launching an attack on Israel the day after its founding.
The 1948 Arab-Israeli War changed the dynamic of the conflict, thrusting the region into what would
become decades of perpetual conflict. During this war, the General Assembly passed Resolution 194,
which reiterated the UN’s claim to Jerusalem and affirmed that "the refugees wishing to return to their
homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable
date”34. This resolution formed the basis of the Palestinian claim to the “right of return”, a major point
in peace negotiations. This point was once again emphasized in Resolution 273 the following year,
which admitted Israel into the UN, under the condition that it honor the terms set form in Resolutions
181 and 194. Resolution 273 was the result of a five month long Lausanne Conference, where it was
first proposed by Israel that the 1949 armistice lines be set as the border of the Jewish state.35 However,
the Lausanne Conference failed to properly address the issue of the Arab refugees expelled from their
homes as a result of the war, and thus the UNRWA was created with Resolution 302 to provide aid to
this group.
31
What has been the role of the UN in the Israel-Palestine Struggle? (2001). TARI
United Nations, General Assembly, Report to the General Assembly, A/364
33
General Assembly Resolution 181, Future Government of Palestine, A/RES/181
34
General Assembly Resolution 194. Palestine – Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator. A/RES/194
35
A Green Line in the Sand. (2007). New York Times
32
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After the failure of early attempts to resolve the issue, the discussion of the conflict became less
prominent at the UN until the 1956 Suez Crisis. On October 29, 1956, Egypt was attacked by Israel,
France, and Great Britain following the nationalization of the Suez Canal by President Nasser. On
November 2, the UN adopted the United States’ proposal of Resolution 997, which called for an
immediate ceasefire, a withdrawal of forces behind 1949 armistice lines, and the reopening of the Suez
Canal. Subsequent resolutions would create the UN Emergency Force, the first UN peacekeeping force.
Several days later, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion declared victory, renounced the 1949
agreement, and added that Israel would never agree to the stationing of UN forces in its territory or
any territory it occupied36. Eventually, Israel did withdraw conditionally from the Sinai, without having
resolved any prior disputes.
Possible Solutions and Controversies
The conflict we have at hand is violent, controversial, and complex. Different plans have been tried and
have failed, with no clear end in sight. Now the Middle East finds itself on the verge of yet another war.
Now is no longer the time to sit back and spectate. Now it is more important than ever that the
international community acts to help both sides come to an agreement that will lead to a lasting peace.
Historical Solution
The United Nations called for cease-fires between the warring states multiple times over the course of
the Six Day War, only for them to be rejected at several points during the conflict. It was not until after
Israel had secured the old city of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights from which Syria was attacking it,
that all parties agreed to a ceasefire. In the aftermath, the Security Council met to adopt S/RES/242,
with provisions to stabilize the region, provide aid to refugees, and prevent another war from breaking
out.
Palestine Membership
There have been talks of admitting Palestine into the UN as either a non-member observer state, or full
membership as a sovereign state, giving it more credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of the
international community. The increased diplomatic pressure from the international community would
help peace agreements between Palestinian leaders and Israel. However, this proposal is dependent
upon a vote in the Security Council, which some permanent members may oppose. With some expert
negotiating, the Security Council may be able to come to a compromise that would enable Palestine to
become a UN member.
Security Concerns
Currently, parts of Palestine are occupied by Israel following the 1948 war. From the Israeli point of
view, this is to ensure border security and prevent acts of terrorism. But from the Palestinian
perspective, this is seen as a violation of Palestine’s sovereignty, and a show of force. At the same time,
groups within Palestine do not recognize Israel’s right to exist and commit acts of terrorism within its
borders. Addressing this issue will be a major step forward in the path to peace.
Bloc Positions37
36
37
Ben Gurion Warns No Peace Possible Unless Israel Has Freedom of Seas. (1956). Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Players. (n.d.). The Six Day War
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Israel
As war looms on the horizon, Israel’s demographic and geographic inferiority have become painfully
apparent. Its landmass comprised less than a tenth of a percent of the total area of the Middle East, and
its population less than two percent. Its citizens live under the constant threat of an Arab attack, a
threat that has only been exacerbated by recent troop buildup on its borders. In addition, the recent
closure of the Straits of Tiran put not only the economy of Israel, but the wellbeing of its people, at risk.
At this time, the bellicose rhetoric from Arab leaders directed against Israel is pushing Israel closer and
closer to war. It waits now for the support of the Western nations, but it is unclear whether or not they
will receive it.
Western Bloc
At this time, Israel is not receiving the same special attention it had been in the past from the Western
Bloc. As Israel prepares for a war on its home front, the United States is already embroiled in a major
foreign war in Vietnam, and is hesitant to engage on another conflict. Instead, the United States, under
the helm of the Johnson administration, aggressively pursues diplomatic solutions to the problem,
including an attempt to organize a flotilla against the Egyptian blockade.
Although France has historically been Israel’s key supplier of weapons, relations have cooled since
Charles de Gaulle’s election in 1958. De Gaulle believed that a shift in policy favouring alignment with
the Arabs would help reassert France as a world power independent from the American or Soviet
camps.
Prior to the Six Day War, Britain perceived Israel as a source of stability in the Middle East, where it
held most of its oil interests. For this reason, the United Kingdom was willing to provide arms to Israel
to defend itself. However, following the Suez Crisis of 1956, Britain saw its influence as a world power
diminishing. Either an Israeli or Egyptian victory would spell danger for Britain, with an Israeli victory
exacerbating the already dwindling British influence in the region, or an Egyptian victory leading to
the fall of Western supported regimes, threatening the supply of oil.
Arab Bloc
The Arab bloc consists of the belligerents, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, as well as all the other Arab states
that came to their aid at the outbreak of war. The Arab world was elated when Nasser moved to
confront Israel, and cheerfully awaited what was expected to be an Israeli defeat. Some nations, such as
Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria, and Pakistan even donated troops and logistics support for Egypt, Syria, and
Jordan.
The Soviet Union
Initially supportive of the creation of Israel in 1949, the Soviet Union no longer regards the Zionist
state as useful for extending its influence into the Middle East. Instead, it has now shifted its support to
the Arab side in the form of training and weaponry, bringing the larger context of the Cold War into
the Middle East. The Soviet Union played a key role in instigating the war, rousing suspicion of Israel
within Arab leaderships, culminating in the report of Israeli troops amassed along the border.
Discussion Questions
1. Is Israel’s occupation of its captured territory legal in the context of international law?
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2. 3. 4. 5. Is Israel entitled to keep any land it gains as part of its historical right?
How should displaced persons and returning Arabs be handled?
How should the issue of border security and terrorism be addressed?
How can the original disputes between Israel and Palestine be addressed to prevent another
type of conflict in the future?
6. What immediate actions must be taken to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens living in the
affected areas?
7. Are there any non-military courses of action that can be taken at this point?
Additional Sources
The Six Day War: Causes and Consequences
http://www.sixdaywar.org/index.asp
The Role of the U.N. in Creating the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
http://www.wrmea.org/2013-august/the-role-of-the-u.n.-in-creating-the-israeli-palestinianconflict.html
40 years of Israeli Occupation
http://www.arij.org/atlas40/chapter1.2.html
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
http://www.historyguy.com/israeli-palestinian_conflict.html
The Middle East Conflict – A Brief Background
http://www.globalissues.org/article/119/the-middle-east-conflict-a-brief-background
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