Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

  • On Monday (18 April), the Security Council will hold its regular quarterly open debate on the Middle East. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to brief the Council on prospects for a political solution to the conflict, and may elaborate on...

  • April 2016

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In April, the Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on the situation in Israel/Palestine and the absence of a path toward a political solution.

  • 17 February 2016

    Middle East Briefing and Draft Press Statement

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow (18 February), Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will provide a briefing, followed by consultations, during the Council’s regular monthly meeting on the Middle East. There has been an increase in Council activity on Israel/Palestine under Venezuela’s presidency....

  • January 2016

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In January, the Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on the situation in Israel/Palestine. Issues likely to be raised include the absence of a path toward a political solution and continuing incidents of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

  • Tomorrow (22 October), the Security Council will convene for the quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel García-Margallo presiding over the ministerial-level meeting. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov is...

  • This morning (16 October), at Jordan’s request, the Council will have a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun on the escalation of tensions and violence in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The permanent representatives...

  • October 2015

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In October, the Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on the situation in Israel/Palestine.

  • 16 July 2015

    Arria-Formula Meeting on Gaza

    What's in Blue

    On Monday morning (20 July), Security Council members Jordan and Malaysia are convening an Arria-formula meeting on Gaza. The meeting is intended to draw attention to the fact that since the 51-day Israeli offensive “Operation Protective Edge” against Gaza one...

  • July 2015

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In July, the Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on the situation in Israel/Palestine. New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, is expected to preside.

  • April 2015

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In April, the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, with a focus on the situation in Israel/Palestine.  Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh is expected to preside.

  • 14 January 2015

    Middle East Open Debate

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow (15 January), the Security Council will convene for its first Middle East quarterly open debate of the year, with a briefing by Assistant Secretary-General of Political Affairs Jens Toyberg-Frandzen. Interventions by the new Council members – Angola, Malaysia, New...

  • 30 December 2014

    Vote on Israel/Palestine Draft Resolution

    What's in Blue

    At 5pm today (Tuesday, 30 December), the Council will convene to vote on a draft resolution (S/2014/916) calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories by the end of 2017. Yesterday, the Arab Group met...

  • January 2015

    Israel/Palestine

    Monthly Forecast

    In January 2015, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman is expected to brief the Council during its quarterly open debate on the Middle East. Also in January, Council members are expected to consider and possibly vote on a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories by 2017.

  • 28 October 2014

    Briefing on East Jerusalem

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow afternoon (29 October), the Council will meet for a public briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman on the situation in Israel/Palestine, particularly on continuing Israeli settlement expansion and rising tensions in East Jerusalem. The meeting was requested...

  • 20 October 2014

    Open Debate on the Middle East

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow (21 October), the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefing*. The main focus is expected to be Gaza and reconstruction efforts there following the devastation wrought...