Topic:
Country: Israel
Delegate Name: Ethan Robine
Country: Israel
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Determining The Legitimacy of Secession Movements
Secession movements have been an ongoing worldwide issue for a long time. The act of one governing body attempting to split from another is almost never a simple process and a variety of factors go into justifying the cause and establishing the legitimacy of these movements. Often these movements arise due to feelings of oppression or mistreatment amongst a population of people, often there are historic or demographic factors playing a role in the division of governments. Across various examples of succession movements various strategies have been employed, yet the rise of violence, instability, and tension are common occurrences across nearly all instances.
The State of Israel recognizes their central role in this topic of debate due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian states. This long established dispute has been prevelant for numerous decades and a variety of approaches have been taken in an effort to appease both sides and establish some assemblance of peace. These efforts have largely failed as tensions remain high and a definitive resolution is yet to have been made. Through all of this turmoil Israel recognizes the two separate Israel and Palestine state solution being the most feasible means of establishing peaceful relations. Newly elected Israeli prime minister Lapid stated “despite all of the obstacles, still today, a large majority of Isralis support the vision of the two state solution, I am one of them.” The organization of governing groups within the succeeding state is directly tied to determining the success and legitimacy of separatist movements. In the case of the Palestian conflict the two regions of Gaza and the West Bank are largely controlled by two separate groups, Hamas and the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization, or Fatah). These two groups, in addition to having conflict with Israel, possess conflicts between one another. This has only further intensified the violence and instability surrounding the Palestine separation movement.
The State of Israel is ultimately not opposed to the idea of a separate Palestinian state, but we wish to establish a foundation that will produce a future of peace and prosperity amongst all parties involved. Israel wishes that others consider the defensive measures that it must take to ensure the safety and prosperity of its own citizens who may get caught in the crossfire of secession endeavors. Israel acknowledges that on a global scale the vast majority of UN member states recognize Palestine as a separate non member observer state, under general assembly resolution 67/19. Additionally a variety of nations provide aid to Palestine. Israel believes that it cannot be denied that the legitimacy of a secession movement is directly correlated with the amount of foreign aid and attention a seceding body receives. Israel understands that this is an incredibly pressing issue and encourages other nations to consider multiple perspectives.
On a more global scale the State of Israel understands that many of these conditions involving the legitimacy and difficulties surrounding secession movements are applicable, for instance the ongoing dispute in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Israel also recognizes that when it comes to determining a movement’s legitimacy it is largely specific from case to case, and individual factors need to be looked at, as one overarching outline cannot be applied to all instances. Thus when it comes to creating a resolution Israel would look to set an outline that ensures specifics are viewed before conclusions are made. It is also vital that a resolution would set in place grounds for ensuring a single effective governing body existed in a newly separated state. One must also consider a seceding state’s ability to function independently in a peaceful, socially and economically strong manner. A resolution must also in some way answer the numerous questions that arise given seceding circumstances, what happens to those who live within a seceding body that do not wish to secede, at what point is a movement formally recognized, and how do we ensure proper living standards are made and maintained in a new state? Additionally Israel would like to put in place some means of deciding who shall have access to specific land and resources that both a state and seceding party claim as their own. Most important of all, Israel would like to ensure that any movement is able to exist in a lasting peaceful manner, and can continuously coexist with its previous governing body.
