Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace
By Ava Blakely
On Wednesday, June 10, the UN Security Council held a high-level open debate titled “Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace” under the “Maintenance of International Peace and Security” agenda item. Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego chaired the meeting. Most States called for peace in the Middle East, consistent with the United Nations Charter and international law. Among these were Pakistan, which spoke against illegal occupation; the United Kingdom, which urged Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid; and China, which called for Palestine to be formally admitted to the United Nations.
Secretary-General António Guterres opened the meeting by discussing the events in Lebanon, drawing attention to Israel’s increased activity, including killing of civilians, seven UN peacekeepers, and the forced displacement of communities. He then touched on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by calling for a two-state solution based on the 1967 drawn borders. Regarding the Gulf Region, he condemned escalating attacks and the restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. In all cases, the Secretary-General called for respect for the ceasefire and the resolution of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue, pointing to Yemen as an example of mediation in action.
Perspectives from the Permanent Members of the UNSC (P5)
The United States (U.S.) took a different route in discussing peace in the Middle East. The U.S. opened by condemning antisemitic language and the diminishing of the Holocaust before stating that debate and discussion could succeed, along with leverage and action. The U.S. stressed the importance of President Trump’s peace efforts, including his call for the release of hostages by Hamas in Palestine and a ceasefire in Lebanon. The U.S. accused Iran of holding the world’s economy hostage by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, while claiming that Russia and China have shielded Iran’s actions.
The United Kingdom (U.K) condemned the massive human destruction in the Middle East, reaffirming the need for the United Nations to play a large part in international law. The U.K. urged Israel to lift the restrictions on humanitarian aid in Palestine. It also called on Iran to de-escalate the conflict. Finally, the U.K. praised Pakistan’s efforts to engage in diplomatic solutions.
Similarly, France lamented that war and international terrorism are now prevalent throughout the region. It called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, and reiterated the suffering of civilians from food insecurity and violence. France ended by stating that no lasting peace can emerge from the use of force.
China stated that international law has not been respected and called on all relevant parties to remain calm and resolve disputes through diplomacy. China echoed France and the U.K.’s statement that humanitarian efforts should improve. It called for a rejection of all attempts to annex Palestine and proposed that the State should be formally admitted to the United Nations. Regarding Syria, China called for Syria to combat terrorism and encouraged Israel to withdraw from Syria.
Russia stated that the UN Security Council should not attempt to implement a biased or directed solution towards any one country. Russia agreed that the Palestinian issue remains a cornerstone for the peace of the entire Middle East, but supported the idea of strengthening Israeli security as a solution. However, it still called for Israel to respect its neighbors. On Iran, Russia agreed that Washington establishing an agreement with Iran was the only correct path forward, calling for all parties to de-escalate in the meantime. The opening of the Strait of Hormuz also remained a critical issue for the Russian Federation.
Response to the P5’s Comments
In response to the U.S. comments, the President of Colombia underscored that no one was attempting to diminish the atrocities of the Holocaust. He lamented a nuclear risk that is ongoing as well as a failure of continuing dialogue, notably quoting Biblical scenes and rejecting the religious idea that there is a “chosen people of God.” He applauded President Trump’s efforts to ensure peace in Gaza, but emphasized that what we are seeing now in the Middle East is not peace, but exactly the opposite.
Regional Perspectives: Arab and North African States
Notably, Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, spoke on behalf of the Arab Group. He strongly reaffirmed the Palestinian issue as central to the Arab world and demanded an end to Israeli occupation and support for Palestinian self-determination. He condemned the recent Iranian attacks on Gulf states and denounced the ongoing Israeli aggression in Lebanon, calling for respect for state sovereignty.
Egypt stated that Israel is threatening regional peace and called for it to withdraw from all Syrian territories. Egypt also condemned the Iranian attacks on the Gulf States and Iraq, echoing Russia in calling for a swift agreement between the United States and Iran.
The United Arab Emirates agreed that dialogue and mediation must be a fundamental pillar of crisis prevention. However, UAE stated that peace could not be measured by the signing of agreements, but by its implementation. UAE stated that effective mediation must be grounded in neutrality, acceptance, and credibility.
Speaking on behalf of a group of cross-regional States, Kuwait condemned the unilateral attacks that violated international law and the destruction of United Nations facilities.
Bahrain reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter. They stated that Palestine had the right to be treated as a state before turning to issues of Iran. On Iran, they underscored that Bahrain continues to be subject to attacks by Iran, and that the Strait of Hormuz is a collective problem.
Palestine reiterated the perilous environment in which Palestinian civilians are living. The representative called for a full implementation of Resolution 2803, Palestine’s preferred path forward on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which includes a ceasefire and full self-determination. Palestine ended their statement with a condemnation of Israeli activity in the Gaza Strip.
Other Perspectives
Emer Higgins, the Minister of State for Disability of Ireland, condemned the recent anti-immigration attack on a man in Belfast. She emphasized the importance of calm leadership and responsible rhetoric. Minister Higgins voiced concern about the suffering in Palestine and called on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid, allowing unimpeded aid at scale. She closed by stating that the territorial expansion in the West Bank is an example of settler violence.
Lee Kyung-Chul, the Republic of Korea’s Special Representative for Middle East Peace, opened his speech by discussing the impacts of oil withholding on the global economy. He also pointed to UN resolution 2788, supporting diplomatic means of lasting peace. He expressed deep concern regarding civilian casualties in the Middle East and food shortages due to trade restrictions. He drew attention to President Lee Jae-Myung’s foreign policy framework, the SHINE initiative. Standing for stability, harmony, innovation, network, and education, its core message encourages countries to build trust through dialogue in pursuit of stability.
Iran pointed out that the US and Israel have violated the ceasefire and must bear full responsibility. Iran firmly stated that no sustainable deal can be found through force, and that the United States President should refrain from threats of force. They claimed that hegemony has fueled mistrust and harmed the Middle East. They also added that in order to advance peace, the UN Security Council must address the root causes of conflict, including those in Syria, Lebanon, and the issue of Palestine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a majority of States, including most of the P5, advocated for Israel to pull out of Syria and Lebanon, as well as to lift the humanitarian blockade in Palestine. Many of the regional actors condemned the attacks by Iran on Gulf states and called for Palestinian self-determination, with only Iran calling on the U.S. to take up responsibility for threats of force. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN spoke on behalf of the Arab states, calling for peace and Palestinian self-determination. Emer Higgins of Ireland and Lee Jyung-Chull of South Korea both spoke on their country’s endorsement of peace in the Middle East and discouraged Israeli violence.
