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Welham MUN 2024: Israel-Palestine Guide

The Welham Boys' School Model United Nations Background Guide outlines the agenda for the 2024 conference, focusing on the Israel-Palestine conflict with a historical perspective set before November 6, 1995. It emphasizes the importance of thorough research, critical thinking, and understanding the UN Security Council's role in maintaining international peace and security. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the conflict's history, key terms, accepted sources, and the committee's procedures to facilitate informed discussions among delegates.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views23 pages

Welham MUN 2024: Israel-Palestine Guide

The Welham Boys' School Model United Nations Background Guide outlines the agenda for the 2024 conference, focusing on the Israel-Palestine conflict with a historical perspective set before November 6, 1995. It emphasizes the importance of thorough research, critical thinking, and understanding the UN Security Council's role in maintaining international peace and security. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the conflict's history, key terms, accepted sources, and the committee's procedures to facilitate informed discussions among delegates.

Uploaded by

debojyoti ghosh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations

Background Guide
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide

Table of Contents

1. Letter from the Executive Board


2. About the Committee
3. Accepted Sources
4. Key terms
5. An Overview Of The Conflict
6. Arab-Israeli Wars & other related conflicts
7. Religious Context
8. International measures
9. Bloc positions
10. Why the Freeze Date?
11. Timeline of the Events
12. Expected flow of the committee
13. QARMAS
14. PP Policy
15. Documentation
16. Conclusion
17. Bibliography
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide

Letter from the Executive Board


Greetings, delegates.
It gives us immense pleasure to welcome you all to the tenth edition of the Welham Boys’
School Model United Nations, 2024. As a simulation of one of the main six organs of the United Na-
tions, we are looking forward to the three day session being engaging as well as a rich experience for
each and every one of you. The Security Council is the United Nation’s principal crisis-management
body. It is empowered to impose binding obligations on the 193 member states and that is why the
work done in UNSC is highly important for ensuring international peace and security. The Security
Council’s resolution is binding for the member states, unlike the other UN organs where the UN can
only advise the members. It is also enforced by the UN peacekeeping forces and can deploy them to
carry out their resolution.
This background study guide has been created to summarise the most basic of information pertaining to
the agenda and should only serve as the starting point for your research. The Executive Board expects
you to go beyond the scope of this guide and encourages everyone to study beyond. The agenda for
UNSC at WELMUN this year revolves around the historical Israel-Palestine conflict and it is of grave
importance that the Security Council is able to implement the proper plan of actions and resolutions to
deal with the issue. Please note that this is a Historical Security Council and the freeze date is 6th Nov.
1995, two days after the assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
With the world at the stage it is in the present, we hope that every delegate recognizes the importance
of the agenda and how much any resolution will affect the current situation, if passed. We look forward
to fruitful and engaging sessions which are oriented towards constructive debate as well as solutions.
We expect all delegates to be thorough in their research and be aware of the foreign relations and the
intricacies that it holds. The Executive Board also strongly suggests delegates to be well-versed with
the UN Charter as well as pre-existing resolutions regarding the same conflict, so that the flow of the
committee is smooth, with limited interjection from us.
Documentation is strongly endorsed and along with lobbying and presence, will play an important role
in the committee. We also recommend focusing on analysis as well as observing intricacies in each
other’s cases. Critical thinking is highly appreciated and a necessity. At the same time, we don’t want it
to be a burden for first time MUNers and we will try our best to make this a learning experience for all.
Please also keep in mind that this committee is set in the past and any and all actions suggested by the
committee will be implemented immediately. The situation is such which requires solutions and thor-
ough debate on aspects, more than one. The conflict requires answers and it requires them fast so that it
can be prevented from growing further.
We would like to conclude with hope that this three-day conference will be a learning experience and a
fun one for all. Please free to contact us in case of a query at [Link]@[Link]
Warm Regards & Best Wishes,
The Executive Board,
United Nations Historic Security Council.
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide

Accepted Sources
With the Internet being the major source of any information, the Executive Board would like to clarify
which all sources are preferred in the formal functioning of the committee. These are sources accredit-
ed by The United Nations :

● REUTERS
● State-operated news agencies - Reports from these agencies can be used to support or question the
credibility of the nation that owns them. However, since they are state-operated, other countries can
deny their reports if they are not substantial.
● UN Reports - Reports published by the UN that are relevant to the agenda are considered credible.
● CIA World Factbook: The World Factbook is an authorised resource prepared by the Central Intel-
ligence Agency which provides information about demographics, geography, communications, gov-
ernment, economy, etc of different countries around the globe. All the facts taken from here would be
taken credible by the committee.
We do not encourage the use of sources such as Wikipedia, Quora, etc. where the information can be
edited easily or the information shows personal biases or opinions rather than objectivity on the matter.
Quotes and/or statements from individuals shall not be accepted as they do not express the views of the
government but rather an individual who holds office.

About the Committee


The Security Council is the primary authority of the United Nations when it comes to dealing with
international security issues and maintaining peace and stability. It has 15 members, five permanent and
the other ten non-permanent, who keep changing in due course of time. It calls upon the parties to settle
disputes and issues through peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment to help with this
peace. It also has the authority to impose sanctions, if necessary and authorize the use of force to main-
tain as well as restore international peace and security.
According to the UN Charter, the Security Council has four purposes
●To maintain international peace and security;
●To develop friendly relations among nations;
●To cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
●Act as a centre for harmonizing the actions of actions.
All members agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other members
can only make recommendations, only the resolutions passed by the Security Council are binding and
the members are obliged to follow these decisions.
The procedure followed by the committee is simple, to first recommend parties to reach agreements by
peaceful means. It can,
●set forth principles for such an agreement;
●undertake investigation and mediation, in some cases;
●dispatch a mission;
●appoint special envoys; or
●request the Secretary-General to use his good offices to achieve a pacific settlement of the dispute.
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
When disputes lead to hostilities, the focus shifts to bringing an end to these hostilities as soon as possi-
ble. The council may,
●issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;
● dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce tensions, separate opposing
forces and establish a calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought.
Beyond this, the council also has the authority to adopt enforcement measures, such as -
● economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions, and travel bans;
● severance of diplomatic relations;
● blockade;
● or even collective military action.
The main objective of the committee involves focusing on those parties responsible and minimising the
impacts of these measures on the general populace and other countries. As this is the official mandate
of the council, delegates are suggested to provide solutions and resolutions that follow this mandate and
are suggested to keep in mind these as they move along with their research.
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
Introduction to the agenda
“Charting the course : Revisiting the Arab-Israeli conflict - Securing Stability for the future”
The Arab-Israeli conflict or more accurately, the Israel-Palestine conflict began in 1948 and is going
strong even in the present times. Since this is a Historic Security Council, the freeze date will only
focus on the events that happened up till 6th Nov. 1995. The agenda is one that affects the whole of the
Middle East and is of utmost importance to every member present in the committee, therefore global
support is required to resolve this conflict.

Starting from the Palestinian Nakba till the signing of the Oslo Accords, which acted as ignition to the
assassination of the then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, there were many events in between
which ended up shaping the politics, the social conditions and even the geography of the region.
What Caused the Conflict

While every individual event and incident has its own history behind it, there are a multitude of reasons
that can be seen as precursors to all of them.
The United Nations Resolution 181 or more famously known as the Partition Plan was a document
passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1947. It authorized and called for the partition of
Palestine into two distinct territories, Israel and Palestine with the city of Jerusalem being a corpus sep-
aratum (Latin for separate entity), which would be governed by a special international regime. Before
this, the area was governed by the United Kingdom but due to the Balfour Declaration and the build-
ing pressure of World War 2, the issue was referred to the United Nations. To investigate thoroughly,
a special committee, the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) was formed with
members from 11 different countries.

The special committee gave two proposals - one of the majority which recommended the formation of
two states joined economically. The other proposal, by the majority, supported the formation of a sin-
gle binational state of autonomous Jewish and Palestinian areas. While the Jews were in favour of the
first one, the Arabs disagreed with both. The proposal was put to vote on November 29, 1947 and after
intense negotiation, the proposal was passed and put into action.
General History

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dates back to the nineteenth century. In 1947, the United
Nations adopted Resolution 181, known as the Partition Plan, which sought to divide the
British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. On May 14, 1948, the State of
Israel with David Ben Guiron as the Prime Minister, was created, sparking the first
Arab-Israeli War (Palestinian Nakba). The war ended in 1949 with Israel’s victory, but 750,000 Pales-
tinians were displaced, and the territory was divided into 3 parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank (of
the Jordan River), and the Gaza Strip.

Over the following years, tensions rose in the region, particularly between Israel and Egypt,
Jordan, and Syria. Following the 1956 Suez Crisis and Israel’s invasion of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt,
Jordan, and Syria signed mutual defense pacts in anticipation of a possible mobilization of Israeli
troops. In June 1967, following a series of maneuvers by Egyptian President Abdel Gamal Nasser, Israel
preemptively attacked Egyptian and Syrian air forces, starting the Six-Day War. After the war, Israel
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
gained territorial control over the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt; the West Bank and East
Jerusalem from Jordan; and the Golan Heights from Syria.

Six years later (1973), in what is referred to as the Yom Kippur War or the October War,
Egypt and Syria launched a surprise two-front attack on Israel to regain their lost territory; Egypt was
able to recover the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat declared the war a victory
for Egypt as it allowed Egypt and Syria to negotiate over previously ceded territory. Finally, in 1979,
following a series of cease-fires and peace negotiations, representatives from Egypt and Israel signed
the Camp David Accords , a peace treaty that ended the thirty-year conflict between Egypt and Israel.
Even though the Camp David Accords improved relations between Israel and its neighbors, the ques-
tion of Palestinian self-determination and self-governance remained unresolved. In 1987, hundreds of
thousands of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip rose up against the Israeli government
in what is known as the First Intifada (Stone Intifada). The 1993 Oslo I Accords mediated the conflict,
setting up a framework for the Palestinians to govern themselves in the West Bank and Gaza, and en-
abled mutual recognition between the newly established Palestinian Authority and Israel’s government.
In 1995, the Oslo II Accords expanded on the first agreement, adding provisions that mandated the com-
plete withdrawal of Israel from 6 cities and 450 towns in the West Bank. On 4th November of the same
year, the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.

Zionism
Zionism , or Jewish nationalism, is a modern political movement. Its core beliefs are that all Jews con-
stitute one nation (not simply a religious or ethnic community) and that the only solution to anti-Sem-
itism is the concentration of as many Jews as possible in Palestine/Israel and the establishment of a
Jewish state there. The World Zionist Organization, established by Theodor Herzl in 1897, declared
that the aim of Zionism was to establish “a national home for the Jewish people secured by public law.”
Zionism drew on Jewish religious attachment to Jerusalem and the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). But
the politics of Zionism was influenced by nationalist ideology, and by colonial ideas about Europeans’
rights to claim and settle other parts of the world.

Zionism gained adherents among Jews and support from the West as a consequence of the murderous
anti-Jewish riots (known as pogroms) in the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The genocide carried out by the Nazis (The Holocaust) of European Jews during World War II killed
over six million, and this disaster enhanced international support for the creation of a Jewish state.
There are several different forms of Zionism. From the 1920s until the 1970s, the dominant form was
Labor Zionism, which sought to link socialism and nationalism. By the 1920s, Labor Zionists in Pales-
tine established the kibbutz movement (a kibbutz is a collective commune, usually with an agricultural
economy), the Jewish trade union and cooperative movement, the main Zionist militias (the Haganah
and Palmach) and the political parties that ultimately coalesced in the Israeli Labor Party in 1968. The
top leader of Labor Zionism was David Ben-Gurion, who became the first Prime Minister of Israel.

A second form of Zionism was the Revisionist movement led by Vladimir Jabotinsky. They earned the
name “Revisionist” because they wanted to revise the boundaries of Jewish territorial aspirations and
claims beyond Palestine to include areas east of the Jordan River. In the 1920s and 1930s, they differed
from Labor Zionists by declaring openly the objective to establish a Jewish state (rather than the vague
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide

formula of a “national home”) in Palestine. They believed that an armed force would be required to
establish such a state. Their pre-state organizations, which included the Betar youth movement and the
ETZEL (National Military Organization) formed the core of what became the Herut (Freedom) Party
after Israeli independence. This party subsequently became the central component of the Likud Party,
the largest right wing Israeli party since the 1970s.

Although many Jews became Zionists by the early 20th century, until the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germa-
ny and the institution of a “Final Solution” to exterminate world Jewry, most Jews were not Zionists.
Most orthodox Jews were anti-Zionist. They believed that only God should reunite Jews in the Prom-
ised Land, and regarded Zionism as a violation of God’s will. Some Jews in other parts of the world, in-
cluding the United States, opposed Zionism out of concern that their own position and rights as citizens
in their countries would be at risk if Jews were recognized as a distinct national (rather than religious)
group. But the horrors of the Holocaust significantly diminished Jewish opposition or antipathy to Zi-
onism, and following World War II most Jews throughout the world came to support the Zionist move
ment and demand the creation of an independent Jewish state.

Although orthodox Jews continued to oppose the creation of a Jewish state for several more decades,
they supported mass settlement of Jews in Palestine as a means of strengthening and protecting the
community. Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, most orthodox Jews who previously had resisted
Zionism adopted the belief that Israel’s overwhelming victory in the war was a sign of God’s support,
and a fulfillment of God’s promise to bring about the Messianic era. The areas captured and occupied
in 1967, especially the West Bank, were important to religious Jews because they are the core of the
biblical Land of Israel (Judea and Samaria). Consequently, Israel’s victory in 1967 gave rise to a more
religious variation of Zionism. Some existing political parties representing orthodox Jews came to
embrace religious nationalism, and new parties and movements formed to advocate Israel’s permanent
control and extensive Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza.

While the study guide does mention a brief history as well as the important factors that led to the gen-
esis of this conflict, the Executive Board expects all delegates to delve deeper and use all information
carefully and with consideration. Since the historical factors are provided, linking them with the present
scenario and then finding solutions as well as constructively debating on them will help the council as
a whole move forward. Try to keep details about the history limited in your actual speeches and focus
more on the present developments and the more recent events to make sure that the committee does not
stray off-track. History is an important part to understand and take into consideration when researching
a particular agenda and we hope that you all will use this information considerably.

Jerusalem
For decades Jerusalem’s status has been among the most contentious issues of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. The city is home to hundreds of thousands of people who belong to either nationality, Israeli or
Palestinian, and both Israelis and Palestinians want the historic city to serve as their capital.
Some proponents of a two-state solution have proposed splitting the city in two: it was divided after the
first
Arab-Israeli war (1948–49) into a western portion under
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
Israeli rule, called Jerusalem, and an eastern portion under Arab (Jordanian) rule, called East Jerusalem.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War (1967) and applied Israeli law and administration
there shortly afterward. In 1980, Israel declared East Jerusalem part of its “complete and united” cap-
ital, and since then Israeli development in East Jerusalem has complicated the practicality of splitting
the city once again. But, at the same time, the eastern portion is heavily populated by Palestinians who
want it to return to Arab rule, and their communities retain a central place in the Palestinian economy.
Jerusalem is claimed by two peoples: Israelis and Palestinians. The city has held a central role in Jew-
ish identity and literature for thousands of years. The Western Wall is a remnant of the Temple of Je-
rusalem, which was destroyed when the Romans forced the Jews into exile nearly two thousand years
ago.

Arabs, both Muslim and Christian, have lived in Jerusalem since the 7th century. The city is home to
some of the holiest places in Islam and Christianity, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre.
Even after the division in 1947, it was “united” once more during the Six-Day War when East Jerusa-
lem was under de facto Israeli control. The people of Jerusalem, however, remained starkly divided, not
just in terms of religion, language, culture, and ethnicity, but also in terms of citizenship, infrastructure,
and municipal services.

Israel has declared the whole of the city—both western and eastern portions—as its capital, and Israe-
lis, who now live on both sides of the city, make up most of its population. The nation has continuously
settled people of its own creed in the territory, who were followed not shortly behind by their military
men. As a result, Palestinians were forced out of their homelands, estranged on a territory they believe
to be their own.

Jerusalem is Palestinians’ largest population center apart from Gaza. The city is difficult to divide as the
Israeli neighborhoods have interwoven with the Palestinian neighborhoods.

Arab Israeli Wars

Given the multitude of conflicts that have arisen between Israel and a number of Arab states, the Ex-
ecutive Board has compiled a few of the most significant wars and conflicts between the countries.
These wars are not the only ones that have occured and the information present here is not the extent to
which the information is limited. All delegates are advised to follow through using these conflicts as the
starting point for their research. The Executive Board expects that delegates will refer to these conflicts
as to establish their stances in the actual committee and that the examples of these conflicts will help
broaden the perspective on the agenda as a whole, to enrich and improve the level of the debate in the
committee.

1948–49: Israel’s War of Independence /Palestinian Nakba/ First Arab-Israeli War


On November 29, 1947, the United Nations (UN) voted to partition the British mandate of Palestine
into a Jewish state and an Arab state ( United Nations Resolution 181). Clashes broke out almost imme-
diately between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, beginning with the Arab ambush of a bus carrying Jewish
passengers from Netanya to Jerusalem on November 30. As British troops prepared to withdraw from
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
Palestine, conflict continued to escalate, with both Jewish and Arab forces committing hostile acts.
On the eve of the British forces’ withdrawal (May 15, 1948), Israel declared independence. The fight-
ing intensified immediately: Egypt launched an aerial assault on Tel Aviv and, the next day, Arab forces
from Egypt, Transjordan (Jordan), Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon occupied the areas in southern and eastern
Palestine not apportioned to the Jews by the UN partition of Palestine and then captured East Jerusa-
lem, including the small Jewish quarter of the Old City. The Israelis, meanwhile, won control of the
main road to Jerusalem through the Yehuda Mountains (“Hills of Judaea”) and successfully repulsed re-
peated Arab attacks. By early 1949 the Israelis had managed to occupy all of the Negev(desert in Israel)
up to the former Egypt-Palestine frontier, except for the Gaza Strip.
Between February and July 1949, as a result of separate armistice agreements between Israel and each
of the Arab states, a temporary frontier was fixed between Israel and its neighbors. In Israel, the war is
remembered as its War of Independence. In the Arab world, it came to be known as the Nakba (“Ca-
tastrophe”) because of the large number of refugees and displaced persons resulting from the war.

Suez Crisis/Second Arab-Israeli War


Tensions mounted again when Egyptian President Gamal
Abdel Nasser, a staunch Pan-Arab nationalist, rose to power. Nasser took a hostile stance toward Isra-
el. In 1956 Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, a vital waterway connecting Europe and Asia that was
largely owned by French and British concerns. France and Britain responded by striking a deal with
Israel—whose ships were barred from using the canal and whose southern port of Eilat had been block-
aded by Egypt—wherein Israel would invade Egypt; France and Britain would then intervene, ostensi-
bly as peacemakers, and take control of the canal.
In October 1956 Israel invaded Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. In five days the Israeli army captured Gaza,
Rafah, and Al-ʿArīsh—taking thousands of prisoners—and occupied
most of the peninsula east of the Suez Canal. The Israelis were then in a position to open sea commu-
nications through the Gulf of Aqaba. In December, after the joint Anglo-French intervention, a UN
Emergency Force was stationed in the area, and Israeli forces withdrew in March 1957. Though Egyp-
tian forces had been defeated on all fronts, the Suez Crisis, as it is sometimes called, was seen by Arabs
as an Egyptian victory. Egypt dropped the blockade of Eilat. A UN buffer force was placed in the Sinai
Peninsula.

Six-Day War/Third Arab-Israeli War


Arab and Israeli forces clashed for the third time on June 5–10, 1967, in what came to be called the
Six-Day War (or June War). In early 1967 Syria intensified its bombardment of Israeli villages from
positions in the Golan Heights. When the Israeli Air Force shot down six Syrian MiG fighter jets in
reprisal, Nasser mobilized his forces near the Sinai border, dismissing the UN force there, and he again
sought to blockade Eilat. In May 1967 Egypt signed a mutual defense pact with Jordan.
Israel answered this apparent Arab rush to war by staging a sudden air assault, destroying
Egypt’s air force on the ground. The Israeli victory on the ground was also overwhelming.
Israeli units drove back Syrian forces from the Golan Heights, took control of the Gaza Strip and the
Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and drove Jordanian forces from the West Bank. Importantly, the Israelis
were left in sole control of Jerusalem.
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
Background Guide
Yom-Kippur War
The sporadic fighting that followed the Six-Day War again developed into full-scale war in 1973. On
October 6, the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur (thus, “Yom Kippur War”), Israel was caught off guard
by Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal and by Syrian forces crossing into the Golan Heights. The
Arab armies showed greater aggressiveness and fighting ability than in the previous wars, and the Israe-
li forces suffered heavy casualties. The Israeli army, however, reversed many of its early losses and
pushed its way into Syrian territory and encircled the Egyptian Third Army by crossing the Suez Canal
and establishing forces on its west bank. Still, it never regained the seemingly impenetrable fortifica-
tions along the Suez Canal that Egypt had destroyed in its initial successes.

The fighting, which lasted through the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, came to an end on October 26.
Israel signed a formal cease-fire agreement with Egypt on November 11 and with Syria on May 31,
1974. A disengagement agreement between Israel and Egypt, signed on January 18, 1974, provided for
Israeli withdrawal into the Sinai west of the Mitla and

Gidi passes, while Egypt was to reduce the size of its forces on the east bank of the canal. A UN peace-
keeping force was established between the two armies. This agreement was supplemented by another,
signed on September 4, 1975.

On March 26, 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty formally ending the state of war that had ex-
isted between the two countries for 30 years. Under the terms of the treaty, which had resulted from the
Camp David Accords signed in 1978, Israel returned the entire Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and, in return,
Egypt recognized Israel’s right to exist. The two countries subsequently established normal diplomatic
relations.

Lebanon War
On June 5, 1982, less than six weeks after Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Sinai, increased ten-
sions between Israelis and Palestinians resulted in the Israeli bombing of
Beirut and southern Lebanon, where the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) had a number of
strongholds. The following day Israel invaded Lebanon, and by June 14 its land forces reached as far as
the outskirts of Beirut, which was encircled, but the Israeli government agreed to halt its advance and
begin negotiations with the PLO. After much delay and massive Israeli shelling of west Beirut, the PLO
evacuated the city under the supervision of a multinational force. Eventually, Israeli troops withdrew
from west Beirut, and the Israeli army had withdrawn entirely from Lebanon by June 1985.

First Intifada
On the night of 8 December 1987, an Israeli army car drove into a Palestinian car, killing four. At the
funeral, protests broke out in a refugee camp. While the first Intifada (also known as the Stone Intifada)
is known for being non-violent, it was actually quite the contrary. The first year of the protests were
actually very violent. After the protests spread to other places in the region, it became a coordinat-
ed movement against the occupation. (Intifada; uprising in Arabic). It started with rocks, which were
traded for guns, which were traded for grenades and much much more. The six year long movement
lasted till 13 September 1993, during which around 1282 Palestinians died and more than 130,000 were
injured. It was estimated that for every three Palestinians that died, less than one Israeli was killed. The
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conflict ended with the signing of the Declaration of Principles, which was signed by both the parties
and marked the start of the Oslo Accords, which were held between 1993 and 1995.

Religious Implications
The social aspect of the conflict largely revolves around the religious beliefs and faiths of the parties
directly involved and also of those indirectly involved. It plays a fair role in the dynamics of the issue,
and thus is something to be considered in your research. The religious implications for the three major
sects that are involved in this conflict are mentioned below in brief. However, please deliberate upon
them through your own research. The Executive Board would like to clarify that since this is a formal
United Nations procedure, religious statements will be valued less than statistics as they do not speak
for the nation or the world at large. This section has been provided to give a clearer understanding of
where religion and this conflict are interwoven and what are the sensitive nuances that one needs to
keep in mind when heading towards the solutions.

Judaism
Closely related to the concept of Israel as the chosen or the covenant is the role of the land of Israel. In
the patriarchal stories, settlement in Canaan is an integral part of God’s fulfillment of the covenant. The
goal of the Israelites who escaped from Egypt and of those who returned from the Babylonian Exile is
the same land.

Following the two revolts against Rome (66–73 CE and 132–135 CE), the Jews of the ever-widening
dispersion continued, as they had before these disasters, to cherish the land. Once again it became the
symbol of fulfillment, so that return to it was looked upon as an essential part of messianic restoration.
It was not, however, until the 19th century that the land began to play a role other than the goal of pil-
grimage or of occasional settlement by pietists and mystics. At the end of the 19th century the power of
the territorial concept was released in eastern Europe in a cultural renaissance that focused on a return
to the land. The coming together of these strains of thought gave rise to Zionism. This predominantly
political movement reflected dissatisfaction with the overall status of the Jewish people in the modern
world.

The political emphasis of Zionism aroused considerable opposition from three competing views of the
status of the Jewish people. The first opposition came from some traditionalist Jews (now called “Or-
thodox” or “ultra-Orthodox”) who were convinced that the Jewish nation must remain a solely religious
community in the Diaspora and even in the land of Israel. The second opposition came from acculturat-
ed Jews in Western Europe and North America who believed that Jews are part of larger secular polities
and that their role in them should be that of a communion of like-minded religious believers, similar to
that of the Catholic and Protestant denominations. The third opposition came from some Eastern Euro-
pean Jews who maintained that Jewish people should seek their own national status in the territories in
which they were presently living.

It was not until the Nazi Holocaust in the middle of the 20th century that the vast majority of Jews
regarded Zionism as the solution to the “Jewish question,” as something the Jews could not very well
survive without. After this time, Jewish opposition to Zionism was confined to peripheral groups on the
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right who still saw Zionism as pseudo-messianism and to peripheral groups on the left who still saw
Zionism as isolating Jews from more important universalist goals.

While Judaism may have influenced much of the conflict, the relationship goes both ways because the
overall conflict has also affected the religion of Judaism in many ways. The establishment of a Jewish
state in the Middle East, an area dominated by Islam has had its impact on the geography as well as the
geopolitics of the world. The conflicts that have arisen between Israel and Palestine can also be rooted
back to the question of Jerusalem. It is also these conflicts which put Judaism on the map (quite literal-
ly), and gave the Jews a haven after the Holocaust.

Christianity
Though both Christianity and Islam are considered Abrahamic religions, in that they have their roots
in Judaism, the Christian connection to Israel is especially strong. Christians cherish both the Old and
New Testaments, in which God has made promises to the Jewish people that He still plans to fulfill and
has graciously included the Church in His covenants with Israel. Even today, Judaism is the root which
supports Christianity, and Christians are to be grateful toward our Jewish friends and neighbors for
their contributions to the Christian faith.

Christians believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah foretold in Scripture.


He began his earthly ministry at 30 years old, a Jewish rabbi (teacher) teaching in Judea and Galilee.
For three years, He traveled the land of Israel preaching repentance and the arrival of the kingdom of
God. He chose a small band of disciples, all Jewish, who followed Him wherever He went. After He
died, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and began to
preach the “Good News” that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

Thousands of people came to faith in Jesus. At first, Christianity was seen as a Jewish sect or an off-
shoot of Judaism (see Acts 11:26, 22:4). However, as more and more Gentile (non-Jewish) believers
came to faith in Christ, they were themselves persecuted locally and also by the state. The Church
began to break away from its Jewish roots and eventually even began to persecute Jews in many cases.
The Apostle Paul warned about the potential for Christians to forget their Jewish roots in Romans 9-11.

The first followers of Jesus were Jewish people living in the Jewish homeland. They heard Jesus teach
in the temple in Jerusalem, on the hills of Judea and Samaria, on the shores of the Galilee, and on the
banks of the Jordan.

Originally called “Followers of The Way,” these early believers were seen as a sect of Judaism and still
worshiped in the temple in Jerusalem (e.g., Acts 3:1). These first believers in Jesus began relocating
throughout the region in response to persecution. Because of this, the teachings of Jesus were shared
with Gentiles (non-Jews), and Christianity quickly spread throughout the Greek-speaking world.
In 70 A.D., following the First Jewish Revolt, future Roman Emperor Titus besieged Jerusalem, de-
stroying both the city and the temple. Later, during Emperor Hadrian’s reign between 117 and 138, he
renamed Judea (from which the word “Jew” is derived) to Syria
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Palaestina after the ancient enemy of the Israelites, the Philistines. Though the Philistines no longer
existed in 70 A.D., the renaming of the Jewish homeland was meant as a final insult to the now forcibly
expelled Jewish people.

In Jerusalem, Christians, as believers were now called, did not join in either of the two Jewish revolts
against the Roman Empire. After the Second Jewish Revolt 132-135 A.D., Christians were seen as dis-
loyal for evacuating Jerusalem before its destruction. This led to a physical parting of the way between
early believers in Jesus and the Jewish community.

In 313 A.D., Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan that ended the persecution of
Christians, paving the way for the acceptance of Christianity and, later, the declaration of it as the
official religion of the Roman Empire by Emperor Theodosius I in 380 A.D. Gradually, Christianity,
though viewed as a sect of Judaism in its beginnings, was now considered a Gentile religion. With little
experiential knowledge or connection to the Jewish roots of their faith, and with false doctrine regard-
ing the Jewish people creeping into the church, each new generation of Christians grew further away
from an understanding of their relationship and responsibility to the Jewish people as outlined by Paul
in his letter to Roman Gentile believers.

Islam
Islamic roots in Israel are deeply linked to their roots in Jerusalem. Indeed, Jerusalem’s multifaceted
meaning stands behind the interest of Muslims all over the world in the land of Palestine as a whole.
The city has strong evocative and emotional associations and has its own place in the hearts of Mus-
lims. It is considered the third-holiest city in Islam after
Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It derives its religious prominence from being the first Qibla, the
initial direction toward which the Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslim community turned their
faces in prayer. The direction was changed a year and a half later to
Mecca by “divine command.”

Jerusalem also derives significance from its association with Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous noctur-
nal journey to the city and then his ascension to Heaven. This event is mentioned in the Koran in the
first verse of chapter 17, “Glory be to Him, who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to
the Further Mosque (al-Masjid al-Aqsa), the precincts of which We have blessed, that we might show
him some of our signs.”

In the nocturnal journey (al-isra wal Mi’raj) , according to Muslim tradition, Muhammad was trans-
ported one night on a winged horse from Mecca to Jerusalem where he led Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
in a prayer. Afterwards, Muhammad ascended to heaven accompanied by the archangel Gabriel. In
this journey of ascension, Muhammad passed through the seven heavens where he encountered earlier
prophets. The Dome of the Rock is the site from which Muhammad ascended.
Although some critics argue that Muhammad’s journey was spiritual and not physical, this journey has
a three-fold significance:

First, it linked the city of Jerusalem with Islam in its very early days in addition to the sura which refers
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to Jerusalem as the first Qibla. Second, it inspired the Muslims with a bulk of lore, so much so, that
Muslims all over the world celebrate that occasion every year. Third, it ushered in a new era in the life
of the city because, from then on, the Muslims considered it their holy duty to protect it from the en-
croachment of the Byzantines and the Persians who were non-Semitic people.
In addition, it is believed that a Koranic verse (v. 44 of chapter 43) was revealed in Jerusalem: “Ask
those of our messengers We sent before thee - Have We appointed apart from the All-Merciful, gods to
be served?”

Omar Ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim caliph, accepted in person the capitulation of Jerusalem which
was under Byzantine rule. Omar had also located the Rock, the place hallowed by the Prophet’s noctur-
nal journey, and before leaving Jerusalem, he built a mosque close to the Rock. Furthermore, a number
of the Prophet’s companions visited the city and at least one of them resided and died in it.
From this humble beginning to the rise, some fifty years later, of great monuments of Muslim archi-
tecture, Jerusalem’s place as the third holy city in Islam was finally established. Its Roman name was
dropped and it became al Bait al-Muqaddas (the Holy House), in apposition to al¬-Bait al-Haram (the
Sacred House), the appellation of Mecca. A variant of the name was Bait al-Maqdis or simply al-Quds
(the Holy City). Later still it became al-Quds ash-Sharif (the Holy and Noble City).
The religious significance of Jerusalem and its function as a source of religious legitimacy were also
highlighted during both the Umayyad and Abbasid rule. Mu’awiyah, the first Umayyad caliph, for ex-
ample, proclaimed himself caliph in Jerusalem, rather than in Damascus, his capital.
Under Mu’awiyah’s successor, Jerusalem became virtually the religious capital, since Mecca and Me-
dina were in the hands of his rivals. Even when Mecca and Medina came under their control, the Uma-
yyad caliphs continued to pay equal respect to Jerusalem. The Abbasid caliphs paid Jerusalem a similar
regard, and the city remained equally significant to successive Muslim rulers, up to the Mamelukes and
the Ottomans who also accorded. the city’s religious status equal to that of Mecca and Medina. But de-
spite its religious significance, Jerusalem was never the capital of Islam. The selection of the seat of the
Islamic Caliphate was a matter of strategy, otherwise Mecca should have been the choice.

International Measures
Oslo Accords (1993)
The Oslo Accords were generally a package of deals penned together by and between Israel and the
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1990s. These peace talks were a pioneering approach
that aimed to solve the disputes and settle the structure of living together in harmony. The key elements
of the Oslo Accords were:
● Transfer of Palestinian Land: Such an agreement was based on the notion of selected regions being
gradually transferred by Israeli control in Palestine towards the Palestinian Authority. The period of
1994–1995 was crucial as it signified the Palestinian move toward self-administration and areas they
controlled.
● Creation of Palestinian Institutions: Among the institutions in accordance with the Oslo Accords were
the Palestinian Authority and the Committee of the PLO. This power of the PLO was assigned to man-
age the Palestinian territories and the representation of the Palestinian government in the negotiations
with Israel.
● Peace Process Framework: In addition, the Oslo Accords were supplemented with a series of work
Welham Boys’ School Model United Nations
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plans that stipulated matters, such as borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem, that were planned
to be dealt with later during the peace talks. They laid the groundwork for the next round of peace pro-
ceedings and diplomatic initiatives around the world.
Camp David Accords (1978)
The signature of the Camp David Accords in 1978 heralded a paramount diplomatic breakthrough in
the Middle East that was particularly prominent in the relationship between Israel and Egypt. The main
features of the Camp David Accords include:
● Comprehensive Peace Agreement: Appearing as a culmination point of the process of negotiation, the
accords led to the Peace Agreement of 1979 between Israel and Egypt, which put an end to hostilities
spanning many years and opened the door for better mutual understanding and cooperation.
● Withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula: As part of the agreement, Israel promised to remove all of its
forces from the Sinai Peninsula, one of the regions Israel occupied during the Six-Day War. One of the
most important steps for reestablishing stability, peace, and trust in the area is the withdrawal of NATO
forces from Afghanistan.
● Bilateral Cooperation: The Camp David Accords also had a major impact on bilateral cooperation in
areas including security, economic growth, and cultural ties between Egypt and Israel.
Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994)
The 1994 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty, which was also a landmark in Middle East diplomacy, is another
key milestone. Key aspects of this treaty included:
● Diplomatic Relations: The treaty was an essential agreement that set up diplomatic relations on a
formal basis between Israel and Jordan. A new chapter in the history of friends was started then.
● Border Clarification: It delineated boundaries and security plans between Israel and Jordan apart
from suicide attacks along the border. This indeed reduced existing clashes and established peace in the
region.
● Security and Economic Cooperation:The treaty set up established plans for military cooperation,
information exchange, and economic ventures between Israel and Jordan that are of mutual benefit and
conducive to neighborly cooperation.
United Nations Security Council Resolutions
UNSC resolutions undeniably served as a key point in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and the search
for peace in the heart of the Middle East. Two key resolutions are:
● Resolution 242 (1967): This resolution stresses that Israelis should get back documents that came
into their possession according to the Six-Day War; it emphasizes the fact that all states in the region
have the right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries; and it refers to a solution to the
refugee question.
● Resolution 338 (1973): It demands a complete cease-fire and talks between the belligerents in order
to achieve a Jewish and a non-Jewish one over the region, which emphasizes the 242 resolution princi-
ples.
● Resolution 313 (February 28, 1972): The latter, “UNSC Resolution 1559,” envisages a future of
peace with the condition of pulling out Israeli forces from Lebanon and their storming zones. Through
the admonitory singular “demand,” the very nature of the task set for Israel is succinctly described, and
the gravity of the UN ultimatum to Israel is emphatically conveyed. On the contrary, it was a peace
plan that has been drawn in tandem with the peace talks that are stressed on the UN-broke ceasefire.
The peace plan came along a path when there were very few positive developments between the two
countries, particularly the strong and well-trained Israeli military actions against the Lebanese.
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● Resolution 316 (June 26, 1972): The resolution will express its rejection in the form of “condemna-
tion” of Israel for causing the violation in Lebanon. Here comes the phrase ‘condemns’ that expresses
shock and disapproval as well as formal prohibition from the international community. It seems to say
that Israel’s actions were not legal or exactly what was required of it by the United Nations.
● Resolution 317 (July 21, 1972): As the resolution promises “condemnation,” it justifies Israel’s
“kidnapping” of Lebanese Arab citizens who were supposedly seized as a kind of counteraction against
the government in Beirut. The term ‘deplores’, is used to reveal that the person feeling the emotion of
disapproval is intensely angry or saddened over something. While the UN voiced its disagreement that
Israel still remained non-compliant with the demand to free prisoners as earlier requested, the primary
purpose of that passage was to show the irritation of the UN towards the disrespect to human rights by
Israel, which may influence its future appraisal of international regulations concerning prisoners.
Madrid Conference (1991)
The Madrid Conference, a serious diplomatic conflict that brought together the most influential actors
in this process in the Middle East, happened. Its main features include:
● Multilateral Dialogue:The conference created an atmosphere of multilateral dialogue and negotiation
among Israel, Arab states, and Palestinian authorities, which was focused on the discussion of a few
critical issues that were holding the processes back and the building of trust between the sides.
● Structure for Further Negotiations: Although there was no immediate breakthrough from the meeting,
it did lay the foundation for later discussions and eventually made it easier for the parties to the dispute
to make contact for the first time, which finally led to the Oslo accords.
Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel (1979)
As part of the Camp David negotiations, Egypt and Israel negotiated the historic Treaty of Egyptian
and Israeli Peace, which set the stage for their future peaceful coexistence. Its essential elements were:
● Normalization of Relations: The pact opened embassies and regular channels of contact between
Egypt and Israel, putting an end to a protracted diplomatic spat.
● Sinai Peninsula Return: Israel decided to remove its military units from the Sinai Peninsula, which
Egypt acceded to during the Six-Day War.
● Security Arrangements: The treaty was not only facilitated by security cooperation arrangements and
confidence-building measures but also cemented in the peaceful relationship between Egypt and Israel,
hence no risk of conflict.
United Nations General Assembly Resolutions
UNGA resolutions have not only helped the Palestinians to get their rights back but also provided peace
through initiatives. Notable resolutions include:
● Resolution 194 (1948): Whether Palestinians of refugee status or not, the resolution stipulates that
they have the right to return to their own homes and properties put them as an integral part of a compre-
hensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Bloc Positions
The matrix for the committee is balanced between countries that support Israel and countries that
support Palestine, along with countries that have a neutral stance on the agenda. The bloc positions are
provided in brief so that the delegates are able to have an understanding where they should start regard-
ing the research as well as are clear on what their allies want in this conflict. Since the committee is
broadly divided into two broad blocs, the Executive Board expects the blocs to engage with each other
and the solutions that they propose, should not be too synonymous to each other given their very obvi-
ous differences on the matter.
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Pro-Israel Bloc
While in formal agreements and constraints, there is no “pro-Israel” bloc as such, there are a lot of
countries who are bound to propose solutions that are in favour of Israel more than they are in the fa-
vour of Palestine. These countries would also be good allies with the United
States of America, given the long and deep-rooted history between the USA as well as Israel.
However this bloc is also characterized with nations that prefer peace and therefore are willing to sup-
port a two-state solution in the best interests of the people of the region. The delegates should focus on
lobbying once they are part of the committee and their research should also revolve around the diplo-
matic relations that their country has as well as how their close allies have historically reacted to this
conflict.
Since this bloc would also comprise many Western nations, their perspective should also talk about the
importance of democracy in emerging republics as well as the growth of the economy. The solutions
that the delegates provide should also revolve around these certain aspects.

Pro-Palestine Bloc
Unlike the other bloc, there is a particular “pro-Palestine” bloc that exists. The countries that have con-
stantly supported Palestine since 1948 are part of this bloc, and a majority of them are Islamic nations
who are proximal to the nations in question. These countries are characterized by a strong leaning to-
wards conservatism and this can be seen in their beliefs as well as the legalities present in their country.
The delegates should focus on the emergence of Palestine as an important nation in the area as well as
the international recognition of the region and its people. The delegates should also focus on the de-es-
calation of anti-Arab movements and the independence which is required by many countries.
Given the geographical circumstances as well as historical evidence, proxy warfare is also an aspect
which the delegates should focus on and tackle in the committee. The countries should condemn Israel
for its emergence and criticize the other bloc for their involvement in the emergence of a state which
has hampered their geographical as well as political scenarios.

Neutral Bloc
Unlike other agendas, the neutral bloc is important in this agenda as the neutral bloc does have the
possibility of affecting the course of the committee as well as influencing the geopolitical scenario of
the whole conflict. The countries which are part of this bloc are in support of a two-state solution with
relation to the refugees as well as the problems which the other bloc members might look at from a
hinging perspective.
Given the necessity of neutrality in the agenda, we strongly suggest lobbying as well as documentation
to establish your presence and making the committee follow your ways towards a more rational, albeit
insensitive resolution.

Why the Freeze Date ?


The delegates to please note that the freeze date for the committee is 6th November, 1995. Any infor-
mation or event that is mentioned will not be taken into consideration by the Executive Board. Any
sources, events, speeches, important moments must not be mentioned in the committee and every infor-
mation should be double checked, specially for its date and time to avoid negative marking.
The signing of the Oslo 2 Accords as well as the assassination of the-then Israeli Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin served as very pivotal moments in leading the conflict where it actually is [Link]
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Background Guide
time was one of turmoil, but also of possibility. It was a time where if everything had gone right, the
conflict could have ended then and there. If the situation had not worsened, then the world might have
been a better place today.

The Executive Board hopes that the flow of the committee will be engaging and that delegates will
question each other on their historical as well as their prospective plans. The board expects that during
a time of conflict, which has been overshadowing peace for too long, the delegates will be able to come
to conclusions which help the citizens of Israel as well as Palestine and the world at large.
The Historic Security Council gives us all an opportunity to explore that world and to hold power in
our hands to steer the world away from where it stands today and hence why the freeze date is import-
ant for the council to ponder upon.

Timeline of Events
November 2, 1917 Balfour Declaration
1930-1945 Start of Holocaust; Jews seek to flee Nazi Regime
May 14, 1948 Formation of Israel
May 15, 1948 Nakba/The First Arab-Israeli War
Summer 1954 Lavon Affair/ Failure of Israeli Operatives
29 October, 1956 -7 November, 1956 Suez Crisis/ 2nd Arab-Israeli War
5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967 6-Day War/ 3rd Arab-Israeli War
5th September, 1972 - 6th September 1972 The Munich Olympic Massacre
6 October 1973 – 25 October 1973 Yom-Kippur War/ 4th Arab-Israeli War
June 1982 – September 1982 1st Lebanon War/ 5th Arab-Israeli War
8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993 1st Intifada
September 13, 1993 Singing of The Oslo Accords
4th November,1995 Assassination of Israeli Prime-Minister Yitzhak Rabin

Expected Flow
As the Executive Board, we want this committee to be a rich and enriching experience for each and ev-
ery delegate. However, as the executive board, we also hold some expectations which we hope are met
with to ensure smooth flow and functioning of the committee and so that we are also able to provide a
memorable experience to all. Please do not hesitate to contact us in case of any query at
[Link]@[Link] .
Communication between delegates and lobbying is highly advised so that the delegates are able to
reach consensus when it comes to things such as moderated caucuses and other formal procedures.
While the Executive Board is present to help with any issues you may face, we would prefer to not
intervene unless absolutely necessary.
Documentation is also a key element, however the only document accepted before the actual beginning
of the committee are the position papers. No other document will be accepted before the committee
actually begins on the 8th of October.
As the Executive Board, we hope that you are able to engage with each other, be it in the form of chits
or Points of informations (POIs). Engagement is highly required when it comes to diplomacy and as
diplomats of your respective nations, engage with the other delegates whenever you have the opportu-
nity.
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As delegates and firstly students, please think of it as a learning experience and maintain courtesy with
each other. Unparliamentary language or foul behaviour towards anyone will not be tolerated and will
be penalized accordingly. It is a moral conduct which should not be broken in any scenario.
Solution-oriented debate as well as constructive arguments which help the council move forward are
highly looked upon as they drive the committee forward and help us all reach a conclusion.
Lastly, as we ourselves are yet to witness the level of debate in the committee, no particular sugges-
tions. However, please try to make the committee engaging for everyone. The Executive Board will
intervene indirectly, only if necessary.
We expect every delegate to be well versed in their research and be vocal if they face any problems in
the committee such as recognition issues and logistical issues. The delegates are free to express their
concerns as well as their problems during the committee. We hope that it is a rich and fulfilling experi-
ence for everyone.

QARMAS
Delegates, these are some of the questions as well as the points which we wish are brought up in the
committee and that the draft resolution consists of solutions to these questions :
● What measures should be taken to safeguard the territorial integrity in the region ?
●What measures should be taken to counter the problem of the refugees ?
● What measures should be taken to cull down the civil unrest in the region ?
● What framework can be provided to safeguard the religious as well as the social rights of the people
of both the regions ?
● How can a spillover be avoided in the neighboring nations ?
● How can the United Nations Security Council ensure that Israel and Palestine are not exploited by
foreign nations and lose their self autonomy ?
● How can the question of Palestine be dealt with ?
● What are the measures that can be taken to avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction and to avoid
the possibility of large-scale warfare ?
● How can non-involved countries help ?
● How can involved countries slowly be taken out of the loop to deal with the problem efficiently ?
● How can the economic effects of the crisis be dealt with and how can the economy of the two regions
be stabilized ?
● What framework should be drafted to deal with the region of Jerusalem ?
● What framework should be passed to provide the people of Jerusalem with a national identity and
recognize them as citizens of the modern world .
● How can the regions be reconstructed and disengaged from violence so that the citizens are able to
prosper and live in a free world ?
● During a time of proposed peace, how will this peace be carried out so that the effects of any events
do not hinder these achievements.
● How to avoid the emergence of extremist and militant organisations such as HAMAS and how to
prevent them from gaining power.
While these are some questions and problems which the Executive Board would like you to answer,
these are not the only complexities of the problem at hand. We expect delegates to come prepared with
some of their problems which they would like discussed in the committee.
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Position Paper Policy


What is a Position Paper?
A position paper is a brief overview of a country’s stance on the topics being discussed by a particular
committee. Though there is no specific format that the position paper must follow, it should include a
description of the position your country holds on the issues on the agenda, relevant actions that your
country has taken, and potential solutions that your country would support.
Purpose:
Keep in mind the recent decisions taken by your own country and major events that have taken place
after the war and your foreign policy regarding the same. The Position papers should include the fol-
lowing details:
● The delegate’s preliminary understanding of the topic and what it entails
● Allocation of the delegate and your stance on this agenda
● Your proposed plan of action and effective solutions
● Any information regarding your portfolio that you think that the Executive Board members
should know
● Furthermore, your expectations as to how this committee should progress and what are your
expectations from the debate.
Each position paper should not exceed two pages, and should all be combined into a single
PDF format per delegate (other formats will not be accepted.)
Formatting
Position papers should include the name of the delegate, his/her country, and the committee, along with
the agenda —
● Be in a standard font (e.g. Times New Roman) with 12-point font size and 1- inch document
margins
Due Dates and Submission Procedure
Position papers for this committee must be submitted by midnight of July 25, 2024. Once your position
paper is complete, please save the file as your country and position paper and send it as an attachment
in an email to your committee’s email address, with the subject heading as your country name and posi-
tion paper. ( File should be saved as a country position paper) The subject of the mail should be: Coun-
try Name - Position Paper. Each position paper will be manually reviewed.
The email address for this committee is [Link]@[Link]

Documentation
For documentation guidelines, please refer to the following link
[Link]
Please note that the Executive Board will be stringent in the formatting as well as the foreign policies
that you mention in the document. Also any particulars, regarding the types of documents accepted
and when the window will be open will be shared to the delegates during the actual working of the
committee. Delegates are advised to focus on quality rather than quantity of any documentation that
they send through and are highly suggested to not prepare any document other than the Position Paper
beforehand, because documentation will only be accepted during a particular window and it should be
relevant to the working of the committee.
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Conclusion

We look forward to hosting you all at the tenth edition of the Welham Boys’ School Model United Na-
tions’24. We hope that this background guide has now provided you with the direction to follow in your
research. Please keep in mind the points that we have mentioned while proceeding with your research.
Note - The background guide is not the only source which should be followed to research about the
agenda. It is only to provide everybody with the equal framework to stand and to find a common point
to start.
We look forward to meeting you all and to a fruitful and a fun session ahead !
Please contact us in case of any emergency or any query at [Link]@[Link]
Warm Regards and the very Best Wishes ,
The Executive Board,
United Nations Historic Security Council.
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Bibliography
Along with the footnotes that have been provided wherever necessary, these are some links which the
Executive Board has used to compile the study guide. Delegates are free to go through these sites and
are highly advised to broaden their scope while researching.
[Link] [Link] [Link]
com/topic/United-Nations-Resolution-181
[Link]
17-1947/ [Link]
[Link]
NlPNRGZ
[Link] lPNRG-
Z&index=2
[Link]
[Link] n-ex-
plained [Link]
[Link] [Link]

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