Topic: The Situation in Israel/Palestine
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Sydney Connors
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Cuba position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
For decades there had been no end to the violence and disruption on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. There are many aspects of international sensitivity when regarding this case, but none will be solved easily. As the Republic of Cuba, it is our hope that we can create a solution that puts aside colonialist or imperialist tendencies, and focuses on restoring peace to the affected regions and peoples. We feel that this could, and rightfully should, be accomplished through a course intended to restore sovereignty to both Israel and Palestine as part of a two-state plan. We as a nation are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, as we see our own struggles against colonialism to gain independence, as well as, our struggle against more modern global powers trying to exert control over us. Following the founding of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964, the Republic of Cuba was one of the first nations to recognize the PLO. This began a process between Cuba and Palestine of establishing official diplomatic relations, and maintaining the friendship our two states have enjoyed. As seen by Cuba, the situation between Israel and Palestine is bred out of irresponsibility, disguised racism, and modern colonialism, while being sustained by stubborn approaches to peace. In the interim, or many times as a result of these attempts at peace, more violence is ushered in, creating more issues to solve, and more failed attempts at peace. It’s important that we, as a committee, look at what has already been attempted, and how it has/hasn’t worked so that we can break this cycle, and point progress in an upwards direction. To begin the process of making peace in this region, it is only right that Israel should make strides to de-occupy areas that are not under their legal jurisdiction. It is crucial that the nation of Israel withdraw their forces from the West Bank unilaterally, as they did in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, and that the remaining blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted, as the presence of Israeli forces in these regions only serve to undermine and intimidate the Palestinian government and its people. Specifically, the blockade on the Gaza Strip is a serious violation of international humanitarian law. This blockade has been in place for over a decade, and though the nations imposing the blockade hide behind the self-defense clause of the UN Charter, the reality is that the blockade serves more as a collective punishment, and it is not without its humanitarian consequences. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Near East (UNRWA) plays a major role in aiding this region, which has been called by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “the largest prison in the world.”. The blockade has caused the region’s economy to deteriorate, and the area is quickly becoming unsuitable for human occupation due to lack of clean water, lack of food, lack of healthcare, lack of housing and unreliable electricity. Not only are the physical conditions of Palestinian citizens threatened by Israeli occupation, but so are their social conditions. The omnipresent sentiment of zionism is put into practice in many of these regions. While the resolution naming zionism as a form of racism was repealed, it is the opinion of Cuba, that the sentiment of having passed a resolution of that nature, sets enough precedent to deem zionism as a potential threat to Palestinian citizens. It is important that we consider ways to curtail bias in the solution that we compose. In addition to the removal of military forces, Cuba would also be encouraged to see the ‘settlements’ of Israeli people illegally occupying what is [de facto] Palestinian territory evacuated and placed within legal limitations of Israeli territory, meaning anywhere other than the regions that Israeli settlements have been told to evacuate (Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem). These settlements are modern colonialism by a kinder name, and were made illegal by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states in Section III, Article 49: “The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” This prohibition on settlements was specifically reiterated when Israel refused to abide by it in the UNSC Resolution 2334 which states quite clearly in operative clause 2: “Reiterates its demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard;”. It is Cuba’s hope that this committee will consider all of those displaced by this conflict, both the millions of Palestinian refugees, as well as Israeli people who were purposefully settled in Palestinian territory and find a solution (with the help of UNHRC and UNRWA) that does not perpetuate colonialism; as we’ve seen the implications of such practices within this society, and many others throughout the course of history. The situation between Israel and Palestine is more than a few issues that can be neatly summarized and decisively stopped, however the delegation of Cuba is excited to put into practice the sentiments of peace that are expressed by many nations in looking at this issue. We hope that the solution that we create in committee, will be a driving force for peace, the restoration of sovereignty, and the end of a humanitarian crisis.
Sources:
Beauchamp, Zack. “Everything You Need to Know about Israel-Palestine.” Vox, 21 Nov. 2014, www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine
“The World Factbook: CUBA.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 6 Nov. 2017, www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html
Hatuqa, Dalia. “Fidel Castro: The Palestinian Connection.” Cuba News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 26 Nov. 2016, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/castro/2014/03/castro-palestinian-connection-201435132839149718.html
