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Latest post: Tue 26 Sep 2023

Insights on the work of the UN Security Council

Briefing on “The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”

Tomorrow morning (27 September), the Security Council will hold its monthly meeting on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is the expected briefer.

Wennesland is expected to provide an oral report on the implementation of resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016, covering developments since his last report of 21 June. In resolution 2334, the Security Council stated that Israeli settlements constitute a “flagrant violation under international law” and demanded an end to all settlement activity. Tomorrow, Wennesland is likely to note that Israeli steps to expand settlements have continued during the reporting period. He may reference in this regard the Israeli authorities’ 7 August decision to advance plans for approximately 2,000 housing units in the settlements of Nof Zion and Ramot Alon in East Jerusalem. More recently, on 11 September Israeli authorities advanced plans for the construction of a new settlement, Kidmat Zion, in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud. At tomorrow’s meeting, Wennesland and many Council members may reiterate that settlements erode the possibility of achieving a two-state solution and may urge Israel to stop evictions and demolitions of Palestinian structures.

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