UN chief says two-state solution cannot be abandoned

Published August 30, 2017
Ramallah: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrives to lay a wreath on the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in this West Bank city on Tuesday.—Reuters
Ramallah: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrives to lay a wreath on the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in this West Bank city on Tuesday.—Reuters

RAMALLAH: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remained the only viable option as he made his first visit to the West Bank since taking office.

Guterres spoke after meeting Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah following talks with Israeli leaders the previous day.

“I want to express very strongly the total commitment of the United Nations but my personal total commitment to do everything for a two-state solution to materialise,” he said.

“I have said several times there is no Plan B to a two-state solution.” A two-state solution to the conflict has been the basis of international diplomacy since at least the early 1990s, but it has recently come under threat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in his country’s history, and has signalled he has no intention of evacuating settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli settlements are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

Prominent members of Netanyahu’s government advocate annexing most of the West Bank, which would make an independent Palestinian state impossible.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to reach the “ultimate deal”, but he himself has cast doubt on the two-state solution, saying he could support a single state if this meant peace. Such statements deeply concern Palestinian leaders.

Guterres spoke again on Tuesday of Israeli settlements as an obstacle to peace, while also noting that they are “illegal under international law”.

On Monday after meeting Netanyahu, he criticised settlements but also said Palestinians must condemn “terrorism”.

He said on Tuesday that “it is important to create conditions for leaders of all sides to appeal for calm, to avoid forms of incitement, for violence to settle down”.

Israeli leaders say Palestinian “incitement” against the Jewish state is a key reason why peace efforts have not advanced.

Peace efforts have been at a standstill since a US-led initiative collapsed in 2014.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.