Unlocking Peace: How UN Membership for Palestine Could Resolve the Middle East Conflict

The United Nations, celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025, stands at a pivotal moment where it can significantly impact the long-standing conflict in the Middle East. A key initiative is the potential recognition of the State of Palestine as the 194th member of the UN. This momentous occasion is set to coincide with the UN Conference on Palestine in June 2025, which could serve as a critical turning point towards achieving peace in the region.

Amidst the ongoing violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, there is a glimmer of hope for a resolution. The international community has largely united around the concept of a two-state solution, viewed as essential for lasting peace. This renewed focus offers a pathway to a comprehensive agreement that could transform the landscape of Middle Eastern politics.

Recently, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a groundbreaking resolution with overwhelming support. This resolution calls for:

• Ending Israel’s illegal occupation established in 1967.
• Reaffirming unwavering support for the two-state solution.
• Outlining a roadmap for establishing a Palestinian state during the upcoming High-level International Conference in June 2025.

It’s essential to understand the historical context of the Palestinian struggle. In 1947, the UN first engaged with the Palestinian issue through Resolution 181, which proposed dividing Mandatory Palestine into independent Jewish and Arab states. Unfortunately, this plan was met with significant resistance, as it unfairly allocated 44 percent of the land to Palestinians, who comprised 67 percent of the population. Before this plan could be peacefully revised, violence erupted, leading to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians—a tragic event known as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

Despite numerous attempts to revive the two-state solution, including efforts by senior UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte, progress has been thwarted by violence and political maneuvering. Bernadotte was assassinated by a Zionist paramilitary group, demonstrating the challenges facing peace initiatives. After Israel declared independence and engaged in conflict with its Arab neighbors, the Lausanne Protocol was signed in 1949 to reinvigorate the two-state approach, yet Israel has consistently ignored this framework.

For decades, U.S. foreign policy has often favored an unequal negotiating process, which has perpetuated the cycle of conflict. Historical agreements such as the Camp David Accords, the Oslo Accords, and the Annapolis Conference have failed to produce a viable Palestinian state. Instead, these negotiations have resulted in what many describe as “Bantustans”—disconnected enclaves lacking true sovereignty.

The upcoming UN conference represents a critical opportunity for change. The U.S. remains the primary veto against the establishment of a Palestinian state, while Israel’s actions continue to focus on territorial expansion rather than peace. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has shown little interest in a two-state solution, opting instead to enhance Israel’s territorial claims, which now extend into parts of Lebanon and Syria.

A shift in U.S. foreign policy is essential—one that prioritizes peace and stability over prolonged conflict. Global consensus, as evidenced by the International Court of Justice and various international organizations, supports the two-state solution as the preferred route to peace.

The 2025 UN Conference is poised to be an important milestone that could lead to a comprehensive peace agreement, potentially encompassing the following seven interconnected measures:

1. Immediate ceasefire: A UN-mandated ceasefire across all conflict zones, including Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran, along with the release of all hostages and prisoners of war.
2. Recognition of Palestine: Admission of a sovereign State of Palestine as the 194th UN member state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from these territories.
3. Stability for Lebanon and Syria: Protection of territorial integrity and the full demilitarization of non-state forces, alongside the withdrawal of foreign armies from these nations.
4. Updated agreements with Iran: Adoption of a revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and the lifting of all economic sanctions.
5. Disarmament of non-state entities: Termination of all belligerent claims and respect for the sovereignty of all regional states.
6. Regional normalization: Establishment of peace and normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and all Arab and Islamic states.
7. Sustainable development fund: Creation of an Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Sustainable Development Fund to support reconstruction and economic recovery.

After decades marred by conflict, the prospect of peace is now more attainable than ever. The UN’s commitment to fostering a comprehensive peace agreement represents a unique opportunity for the region and the world at large.

Jeffrey D. Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. He also serves as President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and as a commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development.

Sybil Fares is an advisor on the Middle East and Africa for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

(Source: Al Jazeera)