ME: UNSC mandate spurn knells Doomsday

English , Kashmir - آزاد جموں کشمیر , / Tuesday, November 5th, 2024

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Hameed Shaheen Alvi

shaheenalvi52@gmail.com

UN Security Council’s Middle East (ME) packages of peace resolutions are not being implemented. Non-implementation clearly means rejection; if a decision of the global peace overseer, UNO, is not being carried out then one can logically conclude an invitation to the disaster of the Doomsday; double misfortune that the world powers watching the global fate are not exerting their sovereign diplomatic clout together to get honored UNSC’s mandate. Then what ultimately will happen? Will the global power elders like to reply to this natural query? Thus far none! All seem to ‘enjoy?’ the gruesome sprawling sites of human blood and bones lying unburied across the battles battered Middle East – Palestine to be specific.

The ongoing ME conflict has devastating humanitarian consequences, with over 45,000 Palestinians reported killed and 80,000 injured in Gaza during ongoing war or locality wars, and 1,200 Israelis killed in attacks. The situation is dire, with 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza facing inhumane conditions, struggling to survive without proper shelter, heating, sanitary facilities, food, and drinking water.  Situation is calamitous; the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres is on record warning that the lack of progress towards a two-state solution in the Middle East threatens regional stability and global security (UN Documents on ME…). His saner observation and advice come after myriads of attempts by the UNSC to solve the dispute via its dozens plus ME solution recommendations; most intriguing!

Observers too have warned that if the resolutions remain unimplemented, the risks of broader regional escalation will continue to grow. The conflict may spread beyond Gaza, fueling turmoil in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and potentially drawing in other countries in the war theatre. According to them the potential consequences could be  (a) Continued conflict and humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank; (b) Spread of violence to neighboring countries, threatening regional security; (c) Increased tensions and potential reaction threats regionwide; (d) Exacerbated sufferings for Palestinians and Israelis with potential for widespread disease and famine.

To avoid these catastrophic outcomes, the international community must unite to support Israelis and Palestinians in advancing a meaningful peace process. The two-state solution remains the only viable path to durable and equitable peace in the conflict torn region. The US has been involved in the Middle East for decades, with significant influence on regional politics, economies, conflicts and actors. Undoubtedly the US has strategic interests in Middle Eastern oil reserves; she has historically supported Israel, impacting regional dynamics towards  positivity and negativity both; she has targeted terrorist outfits such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS; she has formed alliances with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other Gulf states. On the negative side the US withdrawal from the JCPOA has heightened regional tensions despite using her involvement to bridle the conflict; US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital sparked controversy and scepticism; US policies have contributed towards regional divisions; US’s global priorities are evolving, potentially impacting Middle East involvement.

On the positive side the US’s Middle East clout can foster inclusive, multilateral dialogue, assertive support to peaceful resolutions of the regional conflicts, investing regional economic growth and relational cooperation and putting atop human rights and humanitarian concerns; after all the whole world is watching which power actually does what in the Middle East. In the extra regional context the economic role of China in the Middle East is noticeable to the world capitals and is being acknowledged by the pro-peace and neutral watchers of the running conflict with optimism.

An ideal expectation is that both the US and China together forge bilateral understanding in the greater interest of world peace and security to collaborate with regional actors of the Middle East to induct stability and make the direct-ME countries to talk together, after all, all wars finally taper to talks serenity, world wars and history tell us this fact. Frantic vying for influence in any region or at global scale is bound to fragment the world, the world community, warns us discernible future prospect. Therefore, the conflicts torn Middle East sacred to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, should turn sooner into a region of peace for all – oil is an unmitigated need of all. Human welfare must be attached as priority number one with this need. End