Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DECOLONIZATION
COMMITTEE
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
History of the Committee 3
Statement of the Problem 3-5
History of the Problem 5-12
Current Situation 12-23
Relevant UN Actions 23-25
Questions a Resolution must Answer 25-27
Bloc Positions 27
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
General Assembly 1
Gloriana Sojo Dear Delegates,
Co-Secretary General Welcome to the Special, Political, and Decolonization Committee of Lincoln
Model United Nations! My name is Ernesto Núñez Chacón and I am a senior
student at Lincoln School. Currently I am finishing the International
Baccalaureate program and planning to study law and communication at the UCR
in a near future. I was born in Costa Rica and have lived my entire life in
Alajuela, the best place ever. However, about six months ago I moved to San
Antonio de Belén, a fine place. As for my tastes and preferences, I like literature,
theatre, videogames, a little of every type of music, and of course to debate, or
fight, which according to my friends is what I do instead.
Daniela Viteri
My first participation in a Model United Nations was back in 2007 and since then
I have been to more or less every single conference of this sort in Costa Rica. I
Co-Secretary General also participated in Harvard Model United Nations in 2008 which cemented my
passion for diplomacy and my desire to do something positive for the global
community we live in. This conference marks my eight participation in a Model
United Nations and I am beyond honored to be the director of a committee with
such a remarkable trajectory and such a sensitive topic to tackle: the Israeli
Palestinian conflict.
In order to prepare yourself for this debate I strongly encourage you to begin by
reading this study guide from start to end and then proceed with the research for
the specific position of your assigned country. Furthermore, I ask you to become
knowledgeable in current events pertinent to the topic due to the fact that the
Jeanie Ayub Israeli Palestinian Conflict is constantly taking new directions and it is essential
for this debate that you know on which areas to focus your resolution. Remember
Advisor that the better prepared you are, the more enjoyable it will be.
Lastly, I would like to clarify this study guide is not my work. Harvard University
is responsible for it.
Sincerely,
Advisor
Ernesto Núñez Chacón
Director of the Special, Political and Decolonization Committee
Lincoln Model United Nations 2010
General Assembly 2
SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
variety of issues – including matters of
INTRODUCTION decolonization – that are not covered by
DISEC but were quite prevalent at the time of
The issues that the Special, Political, and
Decolonization committee discusses are its founding. Therefore, the Fourth Committee
always of considerable global importance. was instituted as an informal committee to
This year, the committee will be discussing discuss and resolve problems concerning
topics that have affected the lives of either decolonization or self-determination.
thousands. These topics have a significant However, the committee became
impact on international security today, and as permanent in 1978, and despite the dwindling
witnessed throughout history, not dealing with number of colonies in the world today, the
the issues effectively will not only result in issues discussed by SPECPOL are very
their continuation, but also in their significant due to the fact that the sovereignty
exacerbation. of various nations is still somewhat
In the world today, instability in one controversial in the present day. Throughout
specific region cannot be considered an history, SPECPOL has played a crucial role in
isolated threat, as it can swiftly expand and dealing with refugees and other humanitarian
imperil any other region in the world. The crises. Ideal solutions to such conflicts and
nature of these issues can easily change, and crises must recognize the sovereignty of a
thus new dialogue and debate must be held particular state, in addition to its cultural
regularly to address these pressing matters. beliefs and ideological viewpoints.
Certain resolutions, treaties, and laws may be In recent years, SPECPOL delegates have
outdated and must be modified in order to discussed civil disputes in former Yugoslavia,
agree with current affairs. It is also very the rights of the Kurdish people in Iraq and
important that the committee take into Turkey, the fate of the Palestinian refugees,
consideration the root and history of each the peaceful use of outer space, the long term
problem, as experience gained in the past will effects of atomic radiation, and modern
serve as valuable lessons for future solution.
colonialism, as in the Western Sahara, Cyprus,
or Afghanistan.
HISTORY OF
THE THE ISREALI
COMMITTEE PALESTINIAN
When the United Nations was founded in CONFLICT
1945, it involved a system of committees that
were established to deal with the diverse issues
before the General Assembly. The first
committee of the General Assembly was the
STATEMENT OF
Disarmament and International Security
committee (DISEC), and it was established to
THE PROBLEM
deal with disarmament and related
international security questions. The Special, The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is
Political, and Decolonization committee perhaps one of the most sensitive global issues
(SPECPOL), which is the fourth committee in to afflict the second half of the 20th century. It
the General Assembly, deals with a wide takes the form of an ongoing dispute between
Israelis and Palestinians, as well as other
General Assembly 3
SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
Arabs in the region. The current conflict stems transfer of political power from the Ottoman
from larger issues and tensions that can be Empire to the British mandate, the conflict
easily traced back to the end of the 19th began to develop. Violence was prompted by
century, during the rule of the Ottoman and an increase in Jewish immigration to Palestine
British empires and the time of the Zionist as well as Arab nationalism in the region. In
pioneers. Beginning with the disintegration of 1948, the establishment of the state of Israel
the Ottoman Empire and ensuing political sparked the Arab-Israeli War, which
arguments about territorial rights, the conflict concluded with the 1949 Armistice
has continued throughout the century. It has Agreements. These agreements, however, only
gained global attention as a result of the marked the beginning of a series of wars and
staggering level of violence involved, as brutal failed attempts at negotiation. The 1967 war
fighting has been carried out by armies, militia between Israel and the states of Egypt, Jordan,
groups, and terrorist cells on both sides. The and Syria resulted in a rise in aggression
confounding number of casualties has not been between the two sides as well as an increased
limited to the militaries, as civilian populations number of Palestinian refugees as Israel took
on both sides have also been victim to the possession of the West Bank, Gaza Strip,
harsh, and seemingly endless, violence. Golan Heights, and Sinai Peninsula, territories
that were once controlled by Jordan, Egypt and
Syria. Many other wars and innumerable
casualties mark this region’s bitter history,
including the recent Gaza blockade, and
attempts at negotiating for peace have failed
thus far.
There are a number of key issues that
hinder peace between Israel and Palestine.
These involve matters of security and
economy, the topic of refugees, and the status
of Jerusalem and areas of the West Bank.
Before agreeing on any form of military
withdrawal, both Palestine and Israel demand
guaranteed security, as history only shows
violent tendencies from both sides. The majority
of Palestinians are stateless, and most of them
live in refugee camps in the region. They live off
of aid from other countries and have very limited
access to water. Essentially, the right of these
stateless individuals to return to
Israeli/Palestinian lands is a main subject of
debate. Meanwhile, the status of Jerusalem is
contended not only because of politics, but also
because of matters of faith.
There has been much international
Above is a portrait of Balfour and a draft of the involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
declaration. The document would have immense The quartet of powers, which consists of the
ramifications for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian
United Nations, European Union, United States,
situation
and Russia, proposed the Road Map for Peace
and attempted to mediate its implementation.
After the Balfour Declaration of 1917,
The process, however, fell short due to
which expressed British support for the continued fighting and retaliations from both
creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, and the
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
sides, as well as the continuation of negotiations borders dictated by the proposal, and instead
by the US outside of the quartet process. ―sought the arbitration of force.‖134
Countries in the Middle East and North Following through with the resolution and
Africa do not have a single, unified position on ignoring many protests from the Arabs, the
the issue, with varying countries taking different United Nations established the official
stances toward the PLO, Hamas, and Fatah. A partition for September 1948. On May 14,
number of countries in the region are working 1948, however, the British government
toward better relations with Israel and more decided to withdraw from Palestine and leave
moderate stances on the conflict, while others the Jews and Arabs to resolve their own
have relatively fixed positions.
dispute over the Holy Land. The British did
not want to continue losing assets due to the
HISTORY OF behavior of the three Jewish terrorist groups
that were dominating the region at that time—
Haganah, Irgun, and Lef. The Jewish settlers
THE PROBLEM took advantage of the absence of the British
government to establish the state of Israel as
The Conflict on the Frontier an independent country, without negotiating or
When the issue of the conflict in conducting dialogue with the Palestinians.
Israel/Palestine is brought to mind, it is crucial With the establishment of their country, the
to note the region’s geography. This holy Jewish settlers continued acting unilaterally
region, as so recognized by the three and expanded their borders past the original
monotheistic beliefs, was given the name of ones outlined in the resolution passed by the
Palestine in the second century CE. It was in UN.135
fact the Romans who named the region, which
stretched from the Mediterranean Sea coasts to The Arab-Israeli War of 1948-49
the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the With the formation of the country of Israel,
Dead Sea, and from the lower parts of Mount the Israeli army soon took form. The army
Hermon to the Desert of Negev region.132 consisted of volunteers from the Haganah and
Geographically today, this region lies in Irgun terrorist groups, as well as the expert
six political jurisdictions. These regions fighters from the Jewish Brigade that had
consist of Israel in its entirety, the Israeli ruled previously volunteered to help the British in
section of the Occupied Territories, the areas World War II. As the Israeli army mobilized
ruled by the Palestinian Authority, the coastal for an invasion of Palestine, it was the Arab
regions along the southern border of Lebanon, forces, an amalgamation of neighboring
the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, areas of Jordan, countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,
and parts of Syria.133 and Transjordan, that tried to stop the Israeli
army, and to force their forces back into the
The November 1947 UN Resolution for
Mediterranean Sea. The Israeli army continued
Partition
their invasion with the original intent of taking
The United Nations decided in November
1947 to pass a resolution to divide the region control of Palestine, and as the year of 1948
came to an end, the army stood at 100,000. It
of Palestine into two states, one for the Jews
was well-armed and possessed military control
and one for the Arabs. This resolution did not
provide for what the Jewish leaders saw as the over Palestine.136
The UN intervened and attempted to
Promised Land because Judaea, Samaria, the
institute a peace agreement on January 12,
West Bank, and Jerusalem as a whole were not
included, but the leaders at the time acquiesced 1949. These peace talks took place in Rhodes,
and Israel signed a treaty with all but one of
to the borders of the resolution. The Arabs,
the Arab nations that had risen up against their
however, did not want to comply with the
forces. Iraq was the only one of the five
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
countries that refused to attend armistice talks approximately 1,300 Israelis were killed
with Israel, and because of this, the war during the raids carried out by the Arabs, and
against Israel raged on for the other Arab violence increased as Israeli counterattacks
neighbors as well. At that time, Israel had turned brutal. A change in political leadership
taken over four-fifths of the region, with also augmented the strife. The sole moderate
establishments controlling the Galilean and Arab leader, King Abdullah of Jordan, was
Judaean regions (northern and southern areas assassinated by Arab activists on July 20,
of the hill country), some of the Mediterranean 1951. In Egypt, meanwhile, the populist
coast south of Lebanon (not including the dictatorship of Gamul Abdul Nasser rose to
Gaza Strip), and west Jerusalem. Within its power as a result of the military junta putting
borders, Israel had hegemony over ―the Negev an end to the Egyptian monarchy on July 23,
desert, from the southern part of the Dead Sea 1952, paving the road for more hostility to
westward to the Sinai Peninsula and southward come between the Arab nations and Israel.139
to the Gulf of Aqaba.‖137 Thus, at this point
The Suez Canal War (1956)
in the war, Jordan controlled Samaria, northern
Since the war began in 1948, Egypt had
Judaea (later known as the West Bank), nearly
continued to deny Israel access through the
all of the Jordan Valley, and the core of the
Suez Canal. Even after the United Nations
Holy Land—the Old City of Jerusalem. The
Security Council demanded a change, Egypt
Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula were ruled
did not shift its position. With a new
by Egypt, and the Golan Heights belonged to
development in February 1953, when ties
Syria.138
between Israel and Stalin broke off and Stalin
developed a ―pro-Arab Middle Eastern
policy,‖140 the Egyptian-Czech arms deal
took form and was completed in September of
1955. The Arab forces received huge supplies
of weapons from the Soviet bloc. In addition,
the Egyptian dictator, Gamul Abdul Nasser,
constructed a plan to destroy Israel. By cutting
off access to the Straits of Tiran in 1956,
Nasser denied Israeli ships access to the Gulf
of Aqaba. This cut off Israel’s only passage to
the Red Sea—and by extension, its only means
of receiving petroleum. With the military pact
between Saudi Arabia and Yemen in April, his
victory in seizing the Suez Canal from the
British in July, and his combined military
command with Jordan and Syria in October of
that year, Nasser had set his plan in motion.
However, in a defensive attack coordinated by
the Israelis with the backing of France and
Great Britain on October 29, Israel sent
paratroops to Sinai in an attempt to conquer
the Mitla Pass. During the short war that
ensued, troops sent by France and Great
The attempt by the UN to push armistice Britain aided the Israelis, and by the end of the
talks was completely unsuccessful, as it was war, Israel had conquered the entirety of Sinai,
disregarded by the Arabs immediately after a seized Gaza, and once again unblocked its own
treaty was signed. During the seven-year passage to the Red Sea.141
period from 1949 to 1956, it was recorded that
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
While victory had glazed over the eyes of counterattacks that left the Arab armies
the Israelis, the United States decided to fleeing. In less than 6 days, the Sinai region,
intervene – in an attempt to reflect ―pro-Arab all of Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the
sympathies‖ and show that there could only be entirety of the Jordanian region to the west of
one Western superpower present in the Middle the Jordan River were under Israeli control.
East during the Cold War – by halting the Once again, the United Nations Security
invasion.142 After negotiations and threats Council intervened and proposed a truce. This
brought on by the United States, Israel time, Israel quickly occupied the new territory
conceded to withdrawing from the newly it had gained and sent the Palestinians fleeing
invaded regions of the Sinai Peninsula and to neighboring countries in thousands. Those
Gaza, on the condition that Egypt would remaining in the region—which consisted of
demilitarize for good, and that a protective about a million individuals—were forced to
force would be put in place in those regions by provide their services to the Israeli
the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. At the military.146
conclusion of these negotiations, the United
The Yom Kippur war (October 1973)
States was the only superpower remaining in
In 1970, President Anwar Sadat came to
the Holy Land, as France and Great Britain
power in Egypt and expressed to the UN that
withdrew their forces from the Canal Zone
he was eager to reach a peace agreement with
region.143
Israel in exchange for the return of the Sinai
The Six-Day War of 1967 Peninsula, which was captured in 1967.147
Between the years of 1949 and 1967, it Sadat’s proposition was ignored by the US and
seemed as though the land disputes had ended Israel, so with another strategy of attack,
with the armistice established in 1949.144 Egypt and Syria initiated a strike on Israel. It
However, this armistice only remained in was on October 6, 1973 that this surprise
terms of a break from a physical war, because attack began. Egypt targeted the Bar Lev line,
the Arab nations had yet to officially recognize located on the eastern side of the Suez Canal,
the state of Israel. The hostility that remained with a series of air and artillery assaults, and
between Israel and some of the more the Syrians targeted the Golan Heights with an
aggressive countries in the Middle East, like intensive tank incursion. With this
Syria and Egypt, manifested itself in simultaneous breach into Israel, hopes were
declarations supporting guerilla attacks against high for the Arabs. With Israel’s air force
Israel. Egypt also established blockades to eliminated by the USSR-supplied ground-to-
prevent Israel from accessing the Suez Canal, air missiles that Egypt had in its arsenal, Egypt
sent troops into the Sinai, and even deemed the soon found its way past the Bar Lev line, and
presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Syria gained control of the southern portion of
Force unnecessary, insisting on their the Golan Heights.148 Egypt and Syria’s
immediate removal. Syria also acted surprise attacks resulted in early military
aggressively by pouring artillery shells on the victories for the Arabs, and this provoked
Israel towns in Galilee from the Golan American political intervention, followed by
Heights.145 increased military aid to Israel. Israel’s army
While aggressive nations like Egypt and soon retaliated in the north to push Syrian
Syria were open about their hostility toward forces back so that the 1967 treaty borders
Israel, it was not until June of 1967 that were once again imposed. After accomplishing
another major attack was put into motion, with this, the Israelis realized that if their attack
the insistence of the Palestinian extremists. shifted from a defensive one to one that was
Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan sent their more aggressive, not only would they
armies for yet another attack on Israel. exacerbate the conditions of the war, but they
However, before their forces could be put into would also incur outside intervention. As a
action, Israel launched several successful result, upon reaching the original 1967 treaty
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
lines, Israel halted its assault on Damascus and was renamed Palestine. Palestine’s status in
focused its efforts on the Egyptian face of the the UN was further expanded to include
war. Two weeks into the war, the Egyptian participation in General Assembly debates, but
forces that had penetrated Israel were without the right to vote.151 Despite the
infiltrated, and Israel cut the Egyptian line of recognition granted to the PLO by the UN, the
attack back across the Suez Canal. At this United States government still considered it a
time, both the Egyptians and the Israelis terrorist organization until the Madrid
possessed substantial supplies of military Conference in 1991, and the state of Israel did
weapons and materials shipped from their not recognize it until the Oslo Accords were
respective allies, the USSR and the United signed in 1993.152
States.149 Yasser Arafat, who acted as the Chairman
Three weeks into the war, Egypt and Syria of the PLO Executive Committee from 1969
no longer held the advantage of surprise that until his death in 2004, formally sanctioned a
they previously had. Soon, both countries two-state solution to the ongoing Israeli-
began to weaken under the pressure of the Palestinian conflict in 1988. The proposal by
strong Israeli forces. Intent on finding a Arafat was dependent on East Jerusalem
resolution, US Secretary of State Kissinger becoming the capital of the future Palestinian
met USSR Chairman Brezhnev in Moscow, state, and on giving Palestinian refugees the
where a UN Security Council proposal for right of return to land occupied by Israel.
armistice was agreed upon. Syria, however,
unlike Egypt and Israel, did not comply with
the resolution. Because of this disagreement,
the war continued and Israeli forces widened
their control over the territories encircling
Mount Hermon, in addition to surrounding
Suez City. Syria was left with limited options.
After the Security Council passed another
resolution several days later, Syria was forced
to comply. However, by late 1975 efforts for
peace had lost their potential for success, and
there seemed to be no practical hope for a
complete Arab-Israeli peace settlement in the
near future.150 The Camp David agreements in 1979 made history,
with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime
The Palestine Liberation Organization Minister Menachem Begin coming together to announce
The Palestine Liberation Organization the beginning of a peaceful coexistence.
(PLO) is a political organization that was
founded in 1964 by the Arab League at the Camp David I
After the end of the Yom Kippur War,
Cairo Summit, and as its name suggests, it is
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made an
consecrated to the struggle toward the
overture to the Israeli government for peace.
establishment of an independent Palestinian
With peace talks underway between Sadat and
state. Although previously regarded as a
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, US
terrorist organization, it was recognized by the
President Jimmy Carter invited the two leaders
United Nations in 1974 as the legitimate
to Camp David, a presidential retreat in
representative of the Palestinian people, and
Maryland. The discussions were focused on
has held a permanent observer seat in the
two main issues. First, they established a
United States General Assembly since
framework for peace between Egypt and
November 2 of that year. In 1988, in
Israel, which dealt with the settlement of the
accordance with the Palestinian Declaration of
Sinai Peninsula. Second, they worked to
Independence, their representation in the UN
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
develop an outline for possible resolutions to upon which the Intifada was based, the
the issue of Palestine, hoping to grant self- international attention that it attracted to
government to Palestinians in parts of the Palestinian suffering in the West Bank and
occupied territories without necessarily Gaza was unprecedented. This challenged the
deciding upon certain final status concerns.153 Israeli presence in the occupied territories as
In 1979, the agreement between Egypt and never before.158
Israel was signed, bringing the first goal of the Despite the violent response of the Israeli
negotiations to a successful conclusion. troops to the uprising, the resistance continued
However, because the proposal regarding until 1991. In four years, over 1,000
provisional Palestinian autonomy was refused Palestinians were killed, including 200 under
by Palestinians and other Arab nations, the the age of sixteen. Eventually however, it was
second part of the discussions were not divisions within the Palestinians themselves
successful. Moreover, Israel continued its that weakened the movement, as rivalries
construction of new settlements within the developed among the different factions.159
disputed territories, making the Palestinians
even less likely to agree to the terms in the The Gulf War and the Negotiations in
Camp David agreements.154 Madrid and Washington
After the First Intifada, the PLO was
put in a very difficult, and in many respects
unfair, position. Even though the uprising had
The First Intifada
not brought about an end to the occupation of
The First Intifada, which began in
proclaimed Palestinian territories, it
December 1987, was a mass uprising
highlighted the fact that the situation was
instigated by the Palestinian people inhabiting
unstable and definitely mutable in the near
the West Bank and Gaza, unassociated with
future. It also transferred the weight of the
the PLO operating from Tunis at the time.
Palestinian political program ―from the PLO
Literally, intifada means ―shaking off‖ in
leadership in Tunis to the occupied
Arabic, and its purpose was to undermine
territories.‖160 The PLO was urged by
Israeli rule in the occupied territories.155
activists to implement a clear political program
The Intifada attracted ―hundreds of
to lead the Palestinian effort toward
thousands of people, many with no previous
independence. As a result, the Palestine
resistance experience, including children,
National Council assembled in Algeria in
teenagers and women,‖ and it involved ―many
November 1988 to officially recognize the
forms of civil disobedience including massive
state of Israel, assert the independence of a
demonstrations, general strikes, refusal to pay
Palestinian state in the West Bank and the
taxes, boycotts of Israeli products, political
Gaza Strip, and, most importantly, repudiate
graffiti, stone throwing, and the establishment
terrorism. However, the government of Israel
of underground schools—since regular schools
disregarded these gestures and did not
were closed by the military as reprisals for the
acknowledge that the PLO was a legitimate
uprising.‖156 The reason that the uprising was
representative of the Palestinian people and
so popular among the masses was that all of
not a terrorist organization. The US did not
the organizations and institutions that had
show any support for the PLO either, even
grown and suffered under Israeli occupation
though they accepted the changes in their
eventually became involved. Hence, there was
policies.161
mass mobilization.157
As a result of this, in 1990, the PLO—
Even though the PLO itself was not
under Yasser Arafat—expressed its forthright
associated with the uprising, all four main
support for Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq,
factions of the PLO—including Fatah—were
as well as his invasion of Kuwait in the Gulf
involved in the coalition that led the resistance.
War. The PLO did not take this stance because
Therefore, because of the large foundation
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
it was genuinely in favor of the Iraqi takeover Eventually, the failure of the negotiations to
of Kuwait, but because it saw potential for a achieve any progress, compounded with
change in the state of affairs of the Middle Palestinian indignation about the evictions, led
East in Saddam Hussein’s challenge to the US. to growing support for an Islamic resistance
This later proved to be a mistake, as it resulted movement known as Hamas. Previously, the
in the splitting of all previous ties Palestine Israeli government had been in favor of the
had with Kuwaitis, as well as the eviction of development of such Islamic movements,
numerous Palestinians from Kuwait. The because of their tendency to divide the
PLO’s stance in the Gulf War also affected it Palestinians. However, Hamas gained much
negatively in other ways, as it lost popularity support throughout Gaza and the West Bank,
among members of the international and their goals even began to challenge the
community. Moreover, it lost many sources of more moderate secular nationalism offered by
financial assistance, as both Saudi Arabia and the PLO.164
Kuwait stopped providing the PLO financial
The Oslo Accords and the Creation of the
support after the war.162
Palestinian Authority
Because of the weak state of the PLO after
It was a number of various factors that
the Persian Gulf War and requests from the
culminated in the Oslo Accords that took place
Arab nations to facilitate a solution to the
in 1993. Firstly, negotiations in Washington
ongoing Israeli-Palestinian problem, President
had been unsuccessful, but the new Israeli
Bush’s administration was compelled to
government of Yitzhak Rabin was more
pressure Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak
amiable toward the idea of peace between
Shamir to open dialogue with the Palestinians
Palestine and Israel. Secondly, the PLO was
and other Arab nations at a conference held in
still in a position of weakness after the Persian
Madrid, Spain, in October 1991. Shamir was
Gulf War, and the extreme Hamas faction was
reluctant to negotiate with the Palestinians and
quickly gaining support, threatening to replace
demanded that the PLO be excluded from the
Fatah in the PLO. Thus, fearing the rise of the
Madrid Conference. During the course of the
more extreme Hamas faction, Israel shifted
conference, the US government formally
from its position of refusing to negotiate with
recognized the PLO as the legitimate
the PLO and conducted secret discussions in
representation of the Palestinian people;
Oslo, Norway, directly with PLO
however, as predicted, little else was
representatives.165
accomplished during these discussions. Prime
This was a sizeable step forward after the
Minister Shamir acquiesced to Palestinian
fruitless attempts at negotiations in Madrid and
representation—although not from the PLO—
Washington. It resulted in the signing of the
in ensuing negotiations held in Washington,
―Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-
DC; however, little progress was made due to
Government Arrangements,‖ also known as
his intention to ―[drag out] the Washington
the Oslo Accords,‖ during a ceremony hosted
negotiations for ten years, by which time the
in Washington by President Bill Clinton on
annexation of the West Bank would be an
September 13, 1993.166 On this day, Israeli
accomplished fact.‖163
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO
In December 1992, upon Israel’s eviction
chairman Yasser Arafat came together to
of over 400 Palestinian inhabitants of the
conduct an epic and widely publicized
occupied territories, the continuation of
handshake, signaling the approaching end to
negotiations seemed unlikely. The Palestinians
decades of bitter fighting and animosity
were forced to leave because they were
between the Israeli and Palestinian people.167
suspected of being involved with radical
Before the signing of the accords in
Islamic activity. This brought into question the
Washington, an exchange of letters had taken
genuineness of the Palestinian representatives
place between Arafat and Rabin. On
attending the Washington negotiations.
September 9, 1993, a letter concerning key
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SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
issues of Israel and the PLO was addressed to Moreover, elections for the Palestinian
Yitzhak Rabin from Yasser Arafat. The letter Legislative Council and presidency of the PA
consisted of a number of points, including the were delayed until January 1996, at which
PLO’s restated recognition of ―the right of the point Yasser Arafat assumed his role as
State of Israel to exist in peace and president of the Palestinian people. Although
security,‖168 its acceptance of United Nations the PLO and the PA were not formally linked,
Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, its after this election, the PLO and members of
repudiation of the ―use of terrorism and other the Fatah faction dominated the
acts of violence,‖169 and its stated dedication administration. Arafat was the Chairman of the
to the Middle East peace process. In response, PLO Executive Committee and the President
Prime Minister Rabin wrote a letter addressed of the Palestinian Authority until his death in
to Yasser Arafat claiming that ―Israel has 2004. After his death, Arafat was replaced by
decided to recognize the PLO as the Mahmoud Abbas—also known as Abu
representative of the Palestinian people and Mazen—as the leader of the Fatah political
commence negotiations with the PLO within party, the Chairman of the PLO, as well as the
the Middle East peace process.‖170 President of the PA. Mahmoud Abbas has
The Oslo Accords themselves been actively pursuing many of the same goals
accomplished several important things. First, as Arafat.173
there was mutual agreement about the
―transfer of power and responsibilities‖ of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinians. Fatah and Hamas
This agreement took into account five different Fatah, the major center-left Palestinian
spheres, including education and culture, political party that was co-founded by Yasser
health, social welfare, direct taxation, and Arafat, was the leading faction of the PLO—a
tourism, so that Palestinians would be in nationalist, multiparty umbrella confederacy—
control of their own affairs.171 until the January 2006 parliamentary elections.
Second, the responsibility for Palestinian In these elections, the main opposition party,
rule was given to the Palestinian Authority Hamas, won 76 out of 132 of the seats in the
(PA), an interim governmental organization Palestinian parliament, placing them in the
that was created during the Oslo Accords with majority.174 Fatah resigned all of its cabinet
the mandate to govern specific parts of the positions in the chamber in order to express its
disputed territories under the name of refusal to be associated with Hamas,175
Palestine. These disputed areas included the because Hamas is viewed by a large portion of
Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, regions the international community, including the US,
that were claimed by Palestinians for a future EU, Australia, and Japan, as a terrorist
independent state. The PA was created as part organization not to be negotiated with.176
of a 5-year interim period, during which Hamas is essentially an Islamist political party
negotiations about ―permanent status issues‖ that functions as both a social and political
would take place. The goal was to continue organization. It was created in 1987 at the start
negotiations until Palestine was officially of the First Intifada. Ever since it came into
established as an independent state. These existence, Hamas has carried out countless
―permanent status issues,‖ which included the suicide bombings against the Israelis, in
status of Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, addition to rocket attacks, the launching of
security arrangements, and borders, were missiles, and endless shootings. Hamas’s
excluded from the Declaration of Principles, recent rise in popularity among the Palestinian
and negotiations between the two sides people can be attributed to its dedication to
concerning their settlement never took Palestinian liberation and to the social reforms
place.172 it has implemented in the Gaza Strip in order
to improve living conditions.177
General Assembly 11
SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
rely on terror, have been criticized for
polarizing the divide.
QUESTIONS A BLOC
RESOLUTION POSITIONS
MUST ANSWER Countries in the Middle East and North
Africa do not have a very unified stance
regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the
1. What will become of the status of ongoing issue has affected various countries in
Jerusalem? the region in different ways. Egypt has been
allied to Fatah and has expressed strong
2. Should the city remain undivided and opposition—at times through action—to
remain unified within Israel’s political Hamas in Gaza. Other Sunni states seem to
control? Or should Palestinians be given have similar positions as Egypt, with a
claim over parts of the city that were not fluctuating amount of involvement. Iran, Syria,
part of Israel prior to 1967? and Lebanon have shown various levels of
3. If the city is divided, how will the support for the Hamas network and have
national borders be determined? expressed their opposition to Israel’s actions.
States such as Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, and
4. How will access to religiously significant Oman are trying to work toward more
cites be determined? moderate positions, and are currently working
5. How will terrorist acts be kept under on the normalization of their relations with
control and dealt with? Israel.
Recently, China has appointed a special
6. Should refugees be given the right of Middle East envoy, a move that is somewhat
return? If so, to which areas? If not, inconsistent with Chinese foreign policy.
would there be any compensation for the Turkey has conducted joint military operations
refugees? with Israel, and India is one of Israel’s biggest
7. Would this include descendants of markets. Furthermore, by offering economic,
refugees born outside of Israel? Should technical, and military support, Israel and
the UN definition of refugees be oil‐rich Arab states have been competing for
redefined? the support of the developing world.
The Quarter of Powers, which includes the
8. How will resources like water and arable UN, US, EU and Russia, were involved in the
land be distributed among the Israelis and delineation of the Road Map for Peace. These
Palestinians? powers are eager to see the conflict the Middle
9. What will become of the Israeli East come to a peaceful conclusion.
settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Historically, the US has shown strong support
strip? for Israel as one of their most important allies.
The US government has rejected talks with
10. If peace is reached, how can the agreed Hamas, classifying them as a terrorist
armistice lines be enforced? organization, and has also shown opposition to
11. How can both sides be guaranteed of the the right of return. Recently, however, the
fact that the other side will abide by the Obama administration has been urging Israel
agreement? to halt construction in the West Bank, while at
the same time encouraging continued
negotiations with the Palestinians. The EU
maintains a similar stance as the US.
General Assembly 27
SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
writing the position paper is very helpful for
SUGGESTIONS you as it will promote your understanding of
the main policies of the country that you are
FOR FURTHER representing, including where your country
stands on the issue, what actions it has taken in
POSITION CLOSING
PAPERS REMARKS
Lincoln Model United Nations was
Position papers are a crucial part of a
developed to provide young individuals wBith
Model United Nations committee, as they
knowledge about international relations and
serve two very important purposes. Firstly,
General Assembly 28
SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE
global issues, while at the same time offering that you invest for its preparation will
experience with diplomacy. The Harvard determine its success, for you and for other
Model United Nations conference targets a delegates. I understand that this may not be an
large group of high school students and easy task, but I am confident that you will rise
successfully accomplishes these goals with a to the challenge. In return, the dais staff
high level of organization, a devoted dais staff, promises to bring professionalism, enthusiasm,
and an outstanding secretariat. Most and dedication to the conference, and together,
importantly however, the success of LMUN we hope to make LMUN 2010 a truly
depends highly on you, the delegates. rewarding experience.
Your passion and interest about the topics Please feel free to contact me if you have
that are discussed in committee are what any questions or concerns, whether about your
stimulate the dynamic debate, promote the research, or any other aspect of the conference.
instructive atmosphere, and produce the I am always happy to help. I wish you the best
thoughtful resolutions that will come out of of luck with all of your endeavors throughout
this experience. The dedication and knowledge the year, and I look forward to meeting you at
that you bring to the conference and the time the.conference.
General Assembly 29