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Alma Wolf
Sara Price
Model United Nations
18 January 2016

Russias Position on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Policy Statement
Although many countries support Palestinian refugees right to return to their homeland
in present-day Israel, Russia believes that a better answer than an influx of Arab refugees to the
Jewish state would be the establishment of a separate, Palestinian state.

Located in the Middle East, northeast of Egypt, lies the country of Israel. It is the only
Jewish-designated state in the world, and the home of more than 6 million Jewish people (Vital).
However, before becoming a Jewish homeland, this land used to be called Palestine. In the 19th
century the land of Palestine was inhabited by a multicultural population approximately 86
percent Muslim, 10 percent Christian, and 4 percent Jewish living in peace, states an article
titled A Synopsis of the Israel/Palestine Conflict from ifamericansknew.org. Unfortunately, this
peace did not last. An extremist group of Jews called Zionists, whose primary goal was to
establish a Jewish homeland, started encouraging Jewish immigration to Palestine (Synopsis). At
first, this immigration caused no conflict. However, the Jewish population in Palestine continued
to increase, especially as Hitler rose to power in the 1930s (Hitler). Relations between Jewish
immigrants and Palestinian citizens became terse. Ultimately, fighting broke out because both
parties, Jews and Palestinian Arabs, claimed the land of Palestine as their Holy Land. In 1947, in
an attempt to end conflict, the United Nations passed a resolution that proposed a partition of the

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land in Palestine. The Jewish nation, to be called Israel, would be established on 55% of the
original area defined as Palestine, and the rest of the land the Palestinians could continue to
inhabit (Synopsis). Most countries supported this; however, some Arab nations, including Egypt,
Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia did not (UN). The resolution passed, and six months later, the
Jewish nation of Israel was established. The surrounding Arab countries attacked Israel, and
thousands of Palestinian Arabs fled the country. The Israelis eventually won this war, yet it was
the first of many wars with Arab countries (Nov.). The thousands of Palestinian citizens that fled
their country at the sign of war have still not been allowed to return. This is the core issue of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some of the refugees still retain old deeds and keys to homes now
occupied by Israelis, says Heather Sharp in an article titled Right of return: Palestinian dream.
These refugees live in overcrowded refugee camps in neighboring countries where the living
conditions are less than ideal. Many of the Palestinian refugees coming from Syria have made
their homes in the Palestinian refugee camps already established in Lebanon, places that were
already struggling with high concentrations of poverty, extreme overcrowding, a lack of rights,
and a history of conflict and violence, says Laura Mackenzie in a video titled Refugees for a
second time: The Palestinians forced to flee Syria for Lebanon. On top of that, thousands of
lives have been lost because of this conflict. It is most Palestinian refugees dream to return to
their old homes in present-day Israel. If a timely solution isnt agreed upon for the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, the amount of lives lost will increase and living conditions in refugee camps
may get worse. It is clear that the global community, along with Palestinian refugees and Israeli
citizens, is hungry for a solution to this age old conflict.
Whatever solution the United Nations decides upon, one party, either Israelis or
Palestinians, will most likely be slightly unsatisfied. Regardless, Russia believes that it is the

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duty of the United Nations to decide on a peaceful solution that respects the rights of everyone
involved, and take the necessary measures to implement that solution. On that note, we believe
that the best solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the peaceful division of the present-day
country of Israel into two states. If Palestinian refugees were integrated into the Jewish
population, it is highly likely that there would be significant unrest in this population. Allowing
Palestinians the right of return will not bring peace to Israel and the surrounding countries, and
bringing peace to Middle Eastern countries is the main concern of Russia. Although partition
plans have been attempted in the past, we feel that this solution is the most fair, and will provide
statehood to millions of refugees while still protecting the Jewish nature of Israel. As our
president Vladimir Putin stated: Palestinians have the right to establish an independent and
habitable state with a capital in East Jerusalem. Russia will continue to contribute to achieving
this goal through bilateral and multilateral channels. (Withnall) Because the 1967 borders,
designating the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Palestinian land, are disputed, we will draw up new
borders that divide the present-day country of Israel into two equal states. Each state will be
allowed to have half of Jerusalem as their capital. Israeli and Palestinian governments will take
part in negotiating these borders, with mediation by members of the Security Council. Because a
partition could be interpreted as taking land from Israel, the Palestinian government and citizens
will contribute money to the Israeli government, although Palestinians cannot be expected to pay
for the entire cost of their land. For this plan to work, each side will have to concede certain
things. The Israelis will have to accept the loss of land, yet will have some monetary
compensation. The Palestinians must accept that they will not have the right to return to all land
that was previously called Palestine, yet they will be able to return to some. Each country must
make domestic laws that state that their residents cannot live on the other states property, as this

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will eliminate the issue of occupied territories. Russia suggests that this plan is implemented
first as a non-binding General Assembly resolution; however, if it is met with resistance, it will
be reviewed and proposed again as a binding Security Council resolution. If Israelis refuse to
comply with this resolution, Russia will halt all trade with the country, and ask other countries to
do the same. If Palestinians refuse to comply with this resolution, we will place an arms
embargo on them. If both countries choose to obey, we are certain that they will be satisfied with
the newfound peace that will finally exist between them.

Works Cited
"A Synopsis of the Israel/Palestine Conflict." If Americans Knew. If Americans Knew, n.d. Web.
17 Jan. 2016.
Hertz, Eli E. "UN Resolution 181 - The Partition Plan." Myths and Facts (n.d.): 1-7. Myths and
Facts. 2009. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
"Hitler Comes to Power." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust

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Memorial Council, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
"Nov. 29, 1947 | U.N. Partitions Palestine, Allowing for Creation of Israel." The Learning
Network. The New York Times, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Refugees for a Second Time: The Palestinians Forced to Flee Syria for Lebanon. Youtube.
Truthloader, 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Sharp, Heather. "Right of Return: Palestinian Dream." BBC News. BBC, 15 Apr. 2004. Web. 17
Jan. 2016.
"Vital Statistics: Latest Population Statistics for Israel." Jewish Virtual Library. Jewish Virtual
Library, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Withnall, Adam. "Vladimir Putin Says Russia Will Fight for the Right of Palestinians to Their
Own State." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 29 Mar. 2015. Web.
17 Jan. 2016.

Bank:
Palestinian refugees believe that they should have the right to return to Israel for several reasons.
Another quote from Heather Sharp in her article Right of return: Palestinian dream: The
Palestinians have long asserted that the refugees have a moral and legal right to return to what
was once Palestine - including land that is now Israel. Palestinians also claim land in Israel as
their Holy Land, including the capital of Jerusalem. Yet, there is another side to the story. With
a population of 6.6m, of which 5.4m are Jewish, opening the door to a potential 4 million

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returnees would threaten the demographic balance - and thus the very nature - of the worlds only
Jewish state. The Israelis also believe that, should Palestinian refugees be allowed to return, the
already devastating conflict would be heightened further.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/newpop.html
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/nov-29-1947-united-nations-partitions-palestineallowing-for-creation-of-israel/?_r=0
http://www.mythsandfacts.org/conflict/10/resolution-181.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3629923.stm
http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007671