Let’s look into some of the major resolutions passed by the United Nations in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Resolution 181, 1947
After the British mandate of Palestine expired in 1947, The United Nations proposed the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine which stated partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, with the city of Jerusalem as an individual entity. The proposal, known as Resolution 181, was passed in the assembly with more than 70% votes for the proposal.
Resolution 242, 1967
Post the six-day war between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Nations immediately imposed the Resolution 242 which stated the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the six-day war. 15 countries voted for the resolution whereas none voted against. Israel also supported the resolution and withdrew its forces from the land it occupied during the six-day war, in response they called on the Arab states to accept Israel’s right “to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.”
Resolution 425, 1978
Israel invaded Lebanon in March 1978 in an operation code-named Operation Litani. The invasion resulted in the killing of 2000 Palestine and Lebanon civilians. A week after the invasion United nation passed Resolution 425 calling upon Israeli forces to withdraw from Lebanon immediately. United nation also formed a body United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon(UNIFIL) for its peacemaking efforts in the Middle East. The proposal was passed in the assembly with 85% votes for the proposal.
Resolution 1322, 2000
In 2000, Ariel Shanon visited Temple Mount with 1000 security forces. The aftermath of his actions resulted in various demonstrations from the Palestine and Israel Arab civilians disregarding Sharon’s actions to enter a holy site with arms on mere suspicion. This temple was considered to be a holy sight among Palestine’s, infiltrated with anger Palestinians start an uprising, which led to violence on a large scale. As a consequence, thousands of Jews and 3500 Palestinians lost their lives. Resolution 1322 deplored the actions of Shanon and reaffirmed the need for a settlement. The resolution was passed in the assembly with 100% votes for the proposal.
During these 73 years, we have witnessed several initiatives by the United Nations to maintain peace in the Middle East. However, in the case of the Israel Palestine conflict, no concrete solution has been discovered. Several solutions appear achievable in the paper, not in place.