UNSC

STUDY GUIDE

AGENDA: THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CRISIS

UNSC Hearts Mun 2024
Background Guide
 Letter from the Executive Board

On behalf of the Executive Board of the United Nations Security Council

(UNSC), it is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we extend our heartfelt
welcome to you as a distinguished delegate to this esteemed council. We
welcome everyone to Hearts MUN 2024 and the UNSC Committee.

The UNSC holds a vital position within the United Nations, serving as the
primary organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and
security. It is a forum where the diverse nations of the world come together to
deliberate, negotiate, and make decisions on critical global issues affecting
humanity.

We acknowledge the immense responsibility that each delegate carries as a

representative of your country in this esteemed council. The significance of
your role in shaping policies, fostering diplomatic relations, and working
toward the collective security of the international community cannot be
overstated.

As members of the Executive Board, we are committed to upholding the

principles of the United Nations Charter, promoting dialogue and
understanding among nations, and facilitating productive and meaningful
discussions. We believe that through collaborative efforts and constructive
engagement, we can address the multifaceted challenges that confront our
world today.

The UNSC's agenda covers a pressing issue in the modern day, that has
shaken the entire world, the Israeli massacre in Gaza and the treatment of
civilians there. Through the use of directives, you may actively change the
fate of the world and ensure peace and safety reign supreme in an
increasingly
volatile world.
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We encourage you to actively participate in the council's proceedings, engage
in substantive debates, and put forth innovative proposals that reflect the
interests and concerns of your nation. By fostering an environment of respect,
inclusivity, and cooperation, we can collectively strive towards sustainable
solutions that ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all nations.

We assure you of our unwavering support, guidance, and collaboration

throughout the conference. Our team of the Executive Board is here to assist
you in navigating the complexities of the council's
work and to provide any necessary resources you may require.
All the Best!

Regards,
Vaishnav CP (Co-Chair)
Atheeb (Co-Chair)

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Mandate

The UN Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including
the Security Council. It gives primary responsibility for maintaining
international peace and security to the Security Council, which may meet
whenever peace is threatened.

According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:

1. To maintain international peace and security;
2. To develop friendly relations among nations;
3. To cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect
for human rights;
4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the
decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations
make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the
power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement
under the Charter.

Maintaining Peace and Security

When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the
Council’s first action is usually to recommend that the parties try to reach
agreement by peaceful means.

The Council may:

1. Set forth principles for such an agreement;
2. Undertake investigation and mediation, in some cases;
3. Dispatch a mission;
4. Appoint special envoys;
5. Request the Secretary-General to use his good offices to achieve a pacific
settlement of the dispute.

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When a dispute leads to hostilities, the Council’s primary concern is to bring
them to an end as soon as possible. In that case, the Council may:
1. Issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;
2. Dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce
tensions, separate opposing forces and establish a calm in which peaceful
settlements may be sought.

Beyond this, the Council may opt for enforcement measures, including:
1. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions,
and travel
bans;
2. Severance of diplomatic relations;
3. Blockade;
4. Collective military action.
A chief concern is to focus action on those responsible for the policies or
practices condemned by the international community, while minimizing the
impact of the measures taken on other parts of the population and economy.

Mandate of the UNSC:

Council. It gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace

and security to the Security Council, which may meet whenever peace is
threatened. According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:

l. To maintain international peace and security;

2. To develop friendly relations among nations;
3. To cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect
for human rights;
4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

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When a dispute leads to hostilities, the Council's primary concern is to bring
them to an end as soon as possible. In that case, the Council may,

l. Issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;
2. Dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce
tensions, separate opposing forces and establish a calm in which peaceful
settlements may be sought.

Beyond this, the Council may opt for enforcement measures, including:
l. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions,
and travel bans;
2. Severance of diplomatic relations;
3. Blockade;
4. Collective military action.

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 INTERPRETATION OF CHAPTER VII OF THE
UN CHARTER (THREAT TO THE PEACE)
BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's
powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence
of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to
take military and non-military action to "restore international peace and
security".

Chapter VII also gives the Military Staff Committee responsibility for
strategic coordination of forces placed at the disposal of the UN Security
Council. It is made up of the chiefs of staff of the five permanent members of
the Council.

The UN Charter's prohibition of member states of the UN attacking other UN

member states is central to the purpose for which the UN was founded in the
wake of the destruction of World War II: to prevent war. This overriding
concern is also reflected in the Nuremberg Trials' concept of a crime against
peace "starting or waging a war against the territorial integrity, political
independence or sovereignty of a state, or in violation of international treaties
or agreements..." (Crime against peace), which was held to be the crime that
makes all war crimes possible.

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 Introduction to the Agenda
The Israel-Palestine conflict, marked by a series of tumultuous conflicts and
fleeting treaties, has its origins deeply embedded in historical, religious, and
political complexities, chiefly revolving around the contested territories of
Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

1. Historical Rifts and Land Claims: Dating back to the late 19th century,
the conflict began as a clash of aspirations between Jewish immigrants,
driven by the Zionist movement to reclaim their ancestral homeland,
and Arab inhabitants already residing in Palestine. This clash
intensified over competing claims to the land.

2. Partition Proposals and Rejection: The United Nations' 1947 partition

plan proposed separate Jewish and Arab states in Palestine. While the
Jewish leadership accepted, Arab leaders rejected the plan, leading to
armed conflict. Israel's declaration of independence in 1948
exacerbated tensions, resulting in mass displacement of Palestinians, a
significant event known as the Nakba

3. Territorial Seizures and Settlement Expansion: In the aftermath of the

1948 Arab-Israeli War, Israel expanded its territory beyond the
UN-designated borders, acquiring the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East
Jerusalem. Subsequent settlement construction in these areas, deemed
illegal under international law, has been a constant source of contention
and conflict.

4. Wars and Ongoing Violence: The region has been marred by numerous
wars and violent confrontations, notably the Six-Day War in 1967 and
subsequent conflicts in 1973, 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021. These
conflicts have resulted in significant loss of life, widespread

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 displacement, and infrastructure devastation, perpetuating the cycle of
animosity and mistrust.

5. Peace Endeavors and Their Fragility: Despite efforts to broker peace,

including the Oslo Accords in the 1990s aimed at establishing a
framework for negotiations and Palestinian statehood, lasting
resolutions have remained elusive. Treaties and agreements have often
been fragile, undermined by sporadic outbreaks of violence and
deep-seated mistrust between the parties involved. Hamas calls for the
eradication of Israel in its Constitution, while Israel is unwilling to cede
land as it believes there would be a great risk to its security if it did not
maintain control over strategic positions in the West Bank, Golan
Heights and along the Egyptian border.

6. Escalation and De-Escalation: In early 2024, there were sporadic

escalations in violence, including clashes in East Jerusalem and rocket
attacks from Gaza into Israel. However, efforts by international
mediators and regional actors have also led to periods of de-escalation,
with temporary ceasefires brokered to reduce tensions.

7. Political Developments in Israel: Israel has seen significant political

developments, including the formation of a new government coalition
in late 2023 after multiple elections. The coalition government, led by a
diverse array of parties with differing views on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, faces internal challenges in coordinating a cohesive approach
to address the issue. The war cabinet, initially a sign of unity, has
frayed with two of its members exiting it. Israeli leaders such as
Ben-Gvir and Smitrovich have been accused of making genocidal,
inflammatory comments against Palestinians and Arabs.

8. Palestinian Unity Efforts: Efforts towards Palestinian unity have seen

some progress, with reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas

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 gaining momentum. However, longstanding divisions and
disagreements persist, posing challenges to achieving a unified
Palestinian stance in negotiations with Israel. There have not been any
elections since 2006, and the leaders of the PLO are broadly unpopular.
Hamas enjoys more popularity but would likely be unacceptable as a
member of a Palestinian government.

9. Settlement Expansion and Annexation Concerns: Israel's settlement

expansion in the West Bank remains a contentious issue, with
continued construction and expansion projects sparking international
condemnation. Concerns about potential annexation plans persist,
although concrete actions in this direction have been met with
significant pushback from the international community. Recently, Israel
approved the largest settlement expansion in recent years. Settlers have
burned Palestinian agricultural lands, olive trees, clogged water mains
and otherwise taken actions widely viewed as driving Palestinians out
of their homes. In 2005, Israel withdrew from its settlements in the
Gaza Strip, paving the way for the eventual takeover of power by
Hamas after elections the next year.

10. Following this, various incidents have taken place in the Israeli
conflict, where refugees and civilians have been killed all over Gaza
and most recently the Rafah airstrikes.

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Key Terms:

a. United Nations Charter: Enacted on June 26, 1945, the United Nations
Charter
stands as the foundational treaty of the intergovernmental organization
known as the United Nations.

b. Permanent Member: Designates the five member states that possess

consistent membership status within the United Nations Security Council.

c. Non-Permanent Member: According to Article 23 of the United Nations

Charter, ten of the fifteen Council members are elected by the General
Assembly for two-year terms to serve on the Security Council.

d. Sanctions: Sanctions represent enforcement measures employed by the

Security Council to advance their objectives. They can manifest as economic
sanctions, arms embargoes, travel restrictions, and more.

e. Arms embargo: Measure imposed by one or more countries, international

organizations, or regional bodies to restrict the transfer of arms and military
equipment to a specific country or conflict zone.

e. Peacekeeping Missions: United Nations peacekeeping missions, authorized

by the Security Council, are tasked with providing security, political support,
and peacebuilding assistance to nations grappling with conflict or
transitioning from conflict. These missions are guided by principles including
the consent of the host nation, impartiality, and the non-use of force except
for self-defense, safeguarding the mandate, or protection purposes.

f. Veto Power: Refers to the exclusive authority of the P-5 (Permanent Five)
to quash any draft resolution on the floor of the United Nations Security
Council with a single opposing vote.

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Questions to Consider:

1. Could there be a way to prevent the attacks on civilians and civil areas?
2. Could there be a way to evacuate those who are not soldiers from the
region?
3. Could there be a commision to moderate both sides, preventing the
illegal moves?
4. Are there any groups with an influence that keeps the conflict going
and is there a way to block that influence?
5. Do those countries who are related in some ways to this situation really
put efforts to establish peace or are they behaving manipulatively?

RULES OF PROCEDURE:
UNA USA ROP will be followed in the committee. Please find the Hearts
mun ROP in the respective mail for further clarity. There will be a brief ROP
session in the committee to explain the gist of the ROP.

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