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After decades of conflict and failed negotiations, could there be a path to peace between Israel and Palestine? Recently, a proposal called the “UN Israel Palestine Agreement” has been circulating among diplomats, activists, and media outlets. What is this agreement, and what are its chances of success?

First, some background. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the early 20th century, when Zionist Jews started to immigrate to Palestine, then under Ottoman and later British rule, and establish settlements. In 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution to partition Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs. While Israel declared independence in 1948 and gained recognition from many countries, including the US, the Arab states rejected the plan and invaded Israel, triggering a war that displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Since then, Israel has annexed or occupied various territories, while the Palestinians have struggled for autonomy and statehood, facing violence, discrimination, and political division.

Numerous attempts have been made to resolve the conflict through negotiations, mediated by various actors such as the US, Egypt, and Jordan, but most have stumbled or collapsed. In recent years, the situation has worsened, with the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pursuing a policy of settlement expansion, annexation, and repression, while the Palestinian leaders divided between the West Bank authority led by Mahmoud Abbas and the Gaza-based Hamas movement, which has been labelled as a terrorist organization by many states.

Enter the UN Israel Palestine Agreement, which was reportedly drafted by a team of experts from different countries and presented to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in September 2020. The details of the agreement are not fully disclosed, but according to some sources, it proposes the following key points:

– A two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and a shared responsibility for the holy sites.

– A demilitarized Palestine, with security arrangements guaranteed by international forces.

– A phased process of Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, including Area C, which covers most of the West Bank and is currently under full Israeli control.

– A just solution for the Palestinian refugees, based on their rights of return, compensation, and resettlement, in accordance with international law and previous UN resolutions.

– A comprehensive economic development plan for both states, with regional integration and cooperation, and support from international donors.

The UN Israel Palestine Agreement has gained some support from European and Arab countries, as well as from some Jewish and Palestinian civil society groups. Its proponents argue that it provides a balanced and realistic framework for a peaceful settlement, while respecting the rights and interests of both parties, and addressing the root causes of the conflict. They also claim that it has the advantage of being an international agreement, which would make it harder for either side to backpedal or violate it, and would ensure that any disputes are resolved through peaceful and lawful means.

However, the UN Israel Palestine Agreement also faces several challenges and criticisms. One of them is the reluctance of the Israeli government, which under Netanyahu`s leadership has rejected the idea of a two-state solution and pursued a maximalist agenda of annexation and normalization with Arab states, based on a US-brokered plan called the “Deal of the Century”. While Netanyahu is facing a political crisis and may be replaced by a more moderate or pragmatic leader, the Israeli public is divided on the issue, and many fear that a Palestinian state would pose a security threat or undermine Israel`s Jewish character.

Another challenge is the entrenched positions of the Palestinian factions, which have failed to reconcile or present a unified front, and the lack of trust between them and the Israeli side. While Abbas has welcomed the UN Israel Palestine Agreement and criticized the US plan as biased, Hamas has rejected both and called for armed resistance against Israel, which it sees as an illegitimate occupier. Moreover, some Palestinian activists and scholars have criticized the agreement for not going far enough in addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as the colonial nature of Zionism, the systemic discrimination against Palestinians inside Israel, and the complicity of the international community in perpetuating the injustice.

A third challenge is the wider context of regional and global politics, which affect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and vice versa. The recent normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab states, such as the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan, have shifted the balance of power and priorities in the region, and raised questions about the relevance and feasibility of the Arab Peace Initiative, which called for a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab states in exchange for Israel`s withdrawal from the occupied territories. The Trump administration`s policies towards the conflict, which were heavily criticized by the Palestinian side and some European allies, have also complicated the prospects of a multilateral and balanced approach.

In conclusion, the UN Israel Palestine Agreement represents a possible way forward for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on a principled and practical vision of a two-state solution, with international support and legitimacy. However, it also faces significant challenges and criticisms, which reflect the complexity and sensitivity of the conflict, and the need for a broader and deeper understanding of its historical, political, and socio-economic dimensions. While the agreement should be debated and refined, and its flaws and risks addressed, it can also serve as a platform for dialogue and cooperation among different actors, and a reminder of the urgent need for justice and peace in the Middle East.