Security Council2023-04-20T16:32:34-04:00

The Question of Palestine and the Security Council

A Conference Officer at work in the Security Council Chamber, ahead of a Council meeting. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

A Conference Officer at work in the Security Council Chamber, ahead of a Council meeting. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Under the United Nations Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Since 1948, the Council has addressed the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian question on many occasions. When fighting broke out, the Council has called for, or ordered cease-fires. It also dispatched military observers, and deployed UN peace-keeping forces in the region. The Council has set the basic principles for a negotiated peaceful settlement (known as the “land for peace” formula) by its resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). The Council has, on numerous occasions, expressed concern about the situation on the ground, declared null and void the measures taken by the Israeli Government to change the status of Jerusalem, called for the cessation of Israeli settlement activity, which it determined to have no legal validity, reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention and called for the return of Palestinian deportees. The Council has repeatedly called for the immediate resumption of the negotiations within the current Middle East peace process with the aim of achieving an early final settlement between the Israeli and Palestinian sides. The Council affirmed the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognised borders, by its resolution 1397 (2002), and endorsed the Quartet’s (UN, Russia, US and EU) Road Map by its resolution 1515 (2003). The Council receives monthly briefings and holds periodic open debates on the issue. In 2011 President Mahmoud Abbas submitted the application of Palestine for UN membership, currently before the Council. By resolution 2334 (2016)  the Council demanded that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities.

Security Council Web Site

For SC Resolutions voting records, please click here to search

SC’s Resolutions on Question of Palestine

Date Title Symbol
22-Jan-1958 Mideast situation/Jerusalem/Government House zone – SecCo resolution S/RES/127 (1958)|S/3942
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

31-Oct-1956 Mideast situation/Egypt – GA emergency special session call – SecCo resolution S/RES/119 (1956)|S/3721
Sources:

General Assembly 1st Emergency Special Session, Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

13-Oct-1956 Mideast situation/Egypt/Suez question – SecCo resolution S/RES/118 (1956)|S/3675
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution, Voting record

04-Jun-1956 Mideast situation/SecGen mission on behalf of SecCo – SecCo resolution S/RES/114 (1956)|S/3605
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

04-Apr-1956 Mideast situation/Tensions along armistice lines – SecCo resolution S/RES/113 (1956)|S/3575
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

11-Dec-1955 Lake Tiberias area – SecCo condemns Israel’s attack of 11 December 1955 as flagrant cease-fire violation – SecCo resolution S/RES/111 (1956)|S/3538
Sources:

Security Council, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

08-Sep-1955 Mideast situation/Egypt/Outbreak of violence in area along armistice line – SecCo resolution S/RES/108 (1955)|S/3435
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

30-Mar-1955 Armistice demarcation line between Egypt, Israel/ Infiltration – SecCo resolution S/RES/107 (1955)|S/3379
Sources:

Security Council, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

29-Mar-1955 Mideast situation/Egypt, Israel/ Cease-fire violations under S/RES/54 (1948) – SecCo resolution S/RES/106 (1955)|S/3378
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

24-Nov-1953 Attack on West Bank village of Qibya – SecCo censures Israel’s action, requests Jordan to prevent crossings – SecCo resolution S/RES/101(1953)|S/3139/Rev.2
Sources:

Security Council

Type

Resolution, Security Council resolution

Showing 10 documents of 294 found.

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