Insights on the Middle East
The Council will have an open debate on the Middle East tomorrow (Thursday, 21 April). B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, will brief. (The Council has a monthly briefing on the Middle East and quarterly there is a debate.) The Council is not expected to make any decisions following the debate.
Speakers at tomorrow’s debate are expected to largely focus on the stalemated peace process. Some members may also discuss the postponement of the Quartet meeting which had been scheduled for 15 April in Berlin. With this being the first debate since January, it may also reflect on the impact of the political upheavals in the region.
There is increasing anxiety among many Council members about the stalemated peace process and Council members are also aware of the possibility of a Palestinian application for UN membership if there is no substantial progress by September.
Another topic that could be touched on by some members is the approaching anniversary of the 31 May 2010 Gaza flotilla incident. The report of the Panel of Inquiry was originally expected in February but now seems unlikely to be completed before late May.
Please see Security Council Report’s 19 April Update Report on Israel/Palestine for more details on this issue.