\/…<\/p>\n
The Israeli-Palestinian dispute<\/strong><\/p>\n 250. Prospects for progress on the Middle East Peace Process are bleak. The Foreign Secretary judged it to have been \u201cbogged down, static, [and] paralysed for some years now\u201d.335 The Rt Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary (2001\u201306), was \u201cvery pessimistic about the prospect of any resolution\u201d.336 The \u201cimportant thing is not the exact shape\u201d of the outcome, suggested Dr Alterman, but that there is a process so that \u201cPalestinians feel that something is happening [towards] accomplishing some of their needs\u201d and that \u201cIsraelis feel there is some prospect of becoming a more normal state with a more normal set of security concerns\u201d. \u201cThe problem is that we do not have that process\u201d he added.337<\/p>\n 251. Witnesses were also clear that neglect of the issue would be myopic. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far from the only conflict in the region, nor is it the most deadly, but it does occupy a special place in the region\u2019s political life and in the psyche of the Arab people. Mr Daniel Levy, President, US-Middle East Project, explained its \u201ciconic\u201d meaning: \u201cPalestine is still a rallying cry\u201d and is \u201cpointed to as a very important and legitimate grievance in how the Middle East is treated by the West\u201d.338 Mr Nicholas Pelham, Middle East Affairs correspondent for The Economist, saw the conflict as a \u201cblack stain on western efficacy in the region\u201d and judged that the \u201cknock-on effect [of a resolution] would be quite considerable\u201d.339<\/p>\n 252. prospects for progress on a two-state solution have, however, dimmed considerably in the last year on two fronts: the US and Israel.<\/p>\n 253. In February 2017, President Trump dropped the US commitment to a two-state solution, surrendering the decision to whatever \u201cboth parties like\u201d.340 Second, his continued threat to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, which would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, remains an inflammatory option. Third, his choice of David Friedman\u2014an opponent of the two-state solution and advocate of Israeli settlements\u2014as ambassador to Israel may raise tensions.<\/p>\n 254. The politics and policies of Israel diminish the possibilities of peace, specifically the rapid expansion of settlements beyond the agreed 1967 borders of Israel.341 Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the extent and geography of settlements have increased. Since his return to power in 2009 and 2014, the settler population has increased by over 80,000, including at least 16,000 in the West Bank itself. Between 2009 and 2014, construction began on 9,000 new settlement units in the West Bank and 3,000 more in East Jerusalem. This brings the total settler population in East Jerusalem and the West Bank to at least 570,000.342 Mr Levy drew our attention to a recent bill, passed in the Israeli Knesset on 6 February, which would allow the expropriation of privately owned Palestinian land, \u201clegalising essentially the theft of Palestinian private property\u201d.343<\/p>\n 255. The rate and location of these settlements, specifically chosen to make a contiguous Palestinian state an impossibility, makes Israeli policy very problematic. The building and legalisation of settlements \u201cmakes the potential operation of a separate Palestinian state incredibly difficult\u201d said Mr Straw.344 The Minister, Mr Ellwood, said that the \u201cgrowth of settlements is coming perilously close to making [the two-state solution] an impossibility\u201d.345 Mr Netanyahu\u2019s tactic, said Mr Levy, was to suggest the Israelis are \u201cready for peace while making the conditions impossible and making the realities on the ground ever less amenable to two states\u201d.346<\/p>\n 256. The Israelis are treated with kid-gloves by the international community. They \u201ccan do anything\u201d said Mr Straw, and \u201cthey suffer no penalty at all\u201d.347 Mr Levy explained the perception in Israel that:<\/p>\n \u201cwhile the rhetoric escalated, the practical upshot of that international opprobrium was almost zero \u2026 those who condemned settlements on Mondays and Wednesdays were expanding their trade, scientific, military intelligence, technology and sport co-operation with Israel on Tuesdays and Fridays\u201d.348<\/p>\n 257. There has also been a \u201crare \u2026 confluence of interests\u201d between some Arab states and Israel. Upheavals in the Middle East have led \u201cmoderate Arab countries \u2026 to see Israel, as a strategic asset, a countervailing force to regional threats, an ally in promoting stability and prosperity.\u201d349 Egypt and Jordan for some considerable time have had constructive relationships with Israel, with the Egypt-Israeli peace treaty dating to 1979. Mr Crompton was \u201cpleased that Turkey has made efforts to improve relations with Israel\u201d.350 There is a shared antipathy between Saudi Arabia and Israel towards Iran. In August 2016, a Saudi delegation visited Israel and met with senior officials.351The \u201cgame that is really in play here\u201d, feared Mr Levy, is that the Israelis are testing \u201cthe hypothesis of how far they can go in their relations with certain Arab states without having to concede anything on the Palestinians\u201d.352<\/p>\n British policy options<\/strong><\/p>\n 258. Successive British Governments have reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution. In November 2015, the UK National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review said the UK would<\/p>\n \u201ctake every opportunity to promote a peaceful two-state solution through the Middle East Peace Process, as the only way to secure lasting peace\u201d.353 259. Previous UK Governments have also been clear that the expansion of Israeli settlements beyond the agreed 1967 borders is a breach of international law and an impediment to peace. The 23 December 2016 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSC Resolution 2333, of which the UK is a signatory, said that: 260. Witnesses suggested a series of measures to strengthen the long-standing UK policy of advancing the two-state solution.<\/p>\n 261. First, advised Lord Williams, a \u201clittle more political robustness is required with the government of Israel\u201d.356 Israel, said Mr Pelham, \u201cpretty much holds all the cards\u201d. If Israel is not willing to negotiate on a two-state solution, it should be recognised that it is a \u201csingle jurisdiction \u2026 controlling not just the Israeli population but the Palestinian population\u201d, added Mr Pelham.357<\/p>\n 262. The UK Government has shown no such increase in robustness. In December 2016, despite co-sponsoring the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Resolution condemning settlements, the Prime Minister distanced the UK from the outgoing Obama administration\u2019s criticism of the Israeli government and its policy of settlements. On 29 December, the outgoing Secretary of State, John Kerry, warned that the rapid expansion of settlements in the occupied territories meant that the \u201cstatus quo is leading toward one state and perpetual occupation\u201d.358 A statement by the Prime Minister\u2019s office criticised Mr Kerry\u2019s language and said that while settlements are \u201cillegal\u201d they are \u201cfar from the only problem\u201d, and stressed that the people of \u201cIsrael deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.\u201d359<\/p>\n 263. Second, a functioning Palestinian Authority is critical to delivering peace. To date, attempts to build up the Palestinian Authority have made slow progress, or even stalled and need to be rethought. The UK, Mr Levy judged, could \u201cconstructively be part of that rethink\u201d.360 Lord Williams agreed that anything the UK could \u201cdo now to invest politically in the Palestinian Authority\u201d would be a \u201cvery positive step forward\u201d.361 Brexit makes it more challenging for the UK to play a significant role as the UK may not have the leverage of the EU, which is the largest multilateral donor to the Palestinian Authority.362<\/p>\n 264. Third, the UK Government could support EU diplomacy, including the French-led initiative to revive the peace process. Lord Williams explained that were \u201can initiative to be brought forward by the UK, France and Germany, that would certainly be noted\u201d.363<\/p>\n 265. In fact, the UK has recently weakened its support of EU diplomacy on this issue. The UK is the \u201ckey player in blocking Council conclusions\u201d, said Mr Levy, which is empowering other EU countries to break the EU line.364 In January 2017, the French hosted a conference, bringing together 70 countries, which reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution.365 The UK took what Mr Levy described as a \u201cvery degrading, dismissive attitude to the Paris conference\u201d, by refusing to align itself with the subsequent Paris Declaration (15 February 2017).366 Mr Levy saw the UK\u2019s approach as part of \u201ca post-Trump phenomenon\u201d\u2014an \u201cingratiation initiative\u201d with the new US administration.367 The Foreign Secretary dismissed the international conference as \u201cdiplomatic ventures\u201d not really aimed at producing a resolution but \u201cdomestic political posturing in the run-up to various elections\u201d.368<\/p>\n 266. A negotiated two-state outcome remains the only way to achieve an enduring peace that meets Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues. We condemn the continuing Israeli policy of the expansion of settlements as illegal and an impediment to peace.<\/strong><\/p>\n 267. On its current trajectory, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is on the verge of moving into a phase where the two-state solution becomes an impossibility and is considered no longer viable by either side. The consequences would be grave for the region. The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute must remain high amongst British foreign policy priorities. The Government should be more forthright in stating its views on these issues despite the views of the US administration.<\/strong><\/p>\n 268. The aim at this juncture is to ensure that the climate for diplomacy does not degrade any further.<\/strong><\/p>\n 269. In the absence of US leadership, it is time for the Europeans to play a more active role. The UK should support European diplomacy, including the French-led initiative. The International Conference intends to meet again at the end of 2017 and the UK should undertake to support it meaningfully, both politically and financially. It is also an opportunity to bring moderate states of the region on board to build a broad coalition of international support.<\/strong><\/p>\n 270. The balance of power in the delivery of peace lies with Israel. If Israel continues to reduce the possibilities of a two-state solution, the UK should be ready to support Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSC resolutions condemning those actions in no uncertain terms. The Government should give serious consideration to now recognising Palestine as a state, as the best way to show its determined attachment to the two-state solution.369<\/strong> \/…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \/… The Israeli-Palestinian dispute 250. Prospects for progress on the Middle East Peace Process are bleak. The Foreign Secretary judged it to have been \u201cbogged down, static, [and] paralysed for some years now\u201d.335 The Rt Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary (2001\u201306), was \u201cvery pessimistic about the prospect of any resolution\u201d.336 The \u201cimportant thing is […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[2321],"document-category":[1323],"document-source":[4798],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1741,2297,2185,1805,1749,1905,2137,2741],"entity":[1985],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-117732","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-united-kingdom","document-category-report","document-source-state","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-land","document-subject-legal-issues","document-subject-occupation","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-peace-proposals-and-efforts","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-statehood-related","entity-state","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/117732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/117732\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=117732"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=117732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe Minister, Mr Ellwood, reiterated that the UK remained \u201cabsolutely focused on saying that the two-state solution is what we want to achieve\u201d.354<\/p>\n
\n\u201cthe establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace\u201d.355<\/p>\n
\n__________
\n335 Q 142 (Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP)
\n336 Q 90 (Rt Hon Jack Hon Straw)
\n337 Q 220 (Jon B Alterman)
\n338 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n339 Q 66 (Nicholas Pelham)
\n340 \u2018Donald Trump says US not committed to two-state Israel-Palestine solution\u2019, The Guardian, 16 February 2017: https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2017\/feb\/15\/trump-says-us-not-committed-to-two-state-israel-palestine-solution [accessed 31 March 2017]
\n341 The \u201cGreen Line\u201d or 1967 borders are the demarcated lines setting out the internationally agreed borders of the State of Israel.
\n342 Report of the Middle East Quartet, Foundation for Middle East Peace, July 2016: http:\/\/fmep.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Quartet-Report-2016.pdf [accessed 25 April 2017]
\n343 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n344 Q 90 (Rt Hon Jack Straw)
\n345 Q 190 (Tobias Ellwood MP)
\n346 Q 172 (Daniel Levy)
\n347 Q 92 (Rr Hon Jack Straw MP)
\n348 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n349 Tamir Pardo, former Mossad Chief, Speech at the Meir Dagan Conference on Security and Strategy at Netanya College, 21 March 2017: http:\/\/en.cis.org.il\/2017\/03\/26\/the-time-has-come-to-make-a-choice\/ [accessed 26 April 2017]
\n350 Q 24 (Neil Crompton)
\n351 \u2018Can Israel and the Arab States Be Friends?\u2019, The New York Times, 27 August 2016: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/08\/28\/opinion\/sunday\/can-israel-and-the-arab-states-be-friends.html?_r=0 [accessed 26 April 2017]
\n352 Q 172 (Daniel Levy)
\n353 HM Government, National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, Cm 9161, November 2015, para 5.63: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/555607\/2015_Strategic_Defence_and_Security_Review.pdf [accessed 24 April 2017]
\n354 Q 190 (Tobias Ellwood MP)
\n355 United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2334 (2016), 23 December 2016, S\/RES\/2334\/2016: http:\/\/www.un.org\/webcast\/pdfs\/SRES2334\u20132016.pdf [accessed 24 April 2017]
\n356 Q 37 (Lord Williams of Baglan)
\n357 Q 66 (Nicholas Pelham)
\n358 \u2018Kerry rebukes Israel, calling settlements a threat to peace\u2019, New York Times, 28 December 2016: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/12\/28\/us\/politics\/john-kerry-israel-palestine-peace.html?_r=0 [accessed 16 March 2017]
\n359 \u2018Theresa May\u2019s criticism of John Kerry Israel sparks blunt US reply\u2019, The Guardian, 29 December 2016: https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2016\/dec\/29\/theresa-may-john-kerry-comments-israel-palestine-un-resolution [accessed 26 April 2017]
\n360 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n361 Q 37 (Lord Williams of Baglan)
\n362 European Commission website, \u2018European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations\u2019: https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/neighbourhood-enlargement\/neighbourhood\/countries\/palestine_en[accessed 25 March 2017]
\n363 Q 40 (Lord Williams of Baglan)
\n364 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n365 France Diplomatie, \u2018Conference for peace in the Middle East\u2019 15 January 2017: http:\/\/www.diplomatie.gouv.fr\/en\/country-files\/israel-palestinian-territories\/peace-process\/initiative-for-the-middle-east-peace-process\/article\/conference-for-peace-in-the-middle-east-15-01-17 [accessed 16 March 2017]
\n366 Q 173 (Daniel Levy)
\n367 Q 174 (Daniel Levy)
\n368 Q 142 (Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP)
\n369 This would follow the House of Commons vote (October 2014) which supported the recognition of the state of Palestine.<\/p>\n