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[ 2007 ] Part 1 Chapter 6 Middle East Chapter VI Middle East In 2007, the most striking developments in the Mid- UN mandates in support of Lebanese sovereignty, dle East occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Terri- territorial integrity and political independence. The tory and Lebanon. Particularly significant were the country remained in the grip of an intense political establishment of the short-lived Palestinian National crisis, which impeded the normal functioning of the Unity Government and the takeover of the Gaza Strip legitimate constitutional institutions. At the centre of by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic socio-political organ- the crisis was the election of a new President, a posi- ization and paramilitary force, in mid-June, following tion that remained vacant following the expiration several months of armed clashes between Hamas and of President Emile Lahoud’s extended term in office Fatah, a Palestinian political party and the largest fac- on 23 November. The prolonged political deadlock tion of the Palestine Liberation Organization (plo). generated violent confrontations between the oppos- Factional violence reached a climax in the period from ing parties, while targeted assassinations escalated 11 to 17 June, claiming the lives of 188 Palestinians. tensions throughout the country. On 13 June, a car From 16 June, Israel closed the borders of Gaza, with bomb killed Walid Eido, a former judge and Member an exception made for imports of essential humani- of Parliament. On 19 September, Antoine Ghanem, tarian supplies. On 17 June, the President of the Pal- also a Member of Parliament, was assassinated, and, estinian Authority (pa), Mahmoud Abbas, dissolved on 12 December, an explosion killed Army General the National Unity Government. The latter half of the François el-Hajj. Despite the political crisis and in- year saw political divisions and further armed clashes stability, the Government made progress towards ex- between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas consolidated its tending its authority over all of the Lebanese territory; control in the Gaza Strip, establishing a security and disarming and disbanding militias; and asserting its administrative apparatus. In September, President sovereignty and territorial integrity, most notably by Abbas issued a presidential decision barring political defeating in battle Fatah al-Islam, after 15 weeks of groups from participating in future elections unless fighting in a refugee camp near the city of Tripoli. they recognized all international agreements of the The Secretary-General travelled to Lebanon in March plo. The Israeli security cabinet declared Gaza a hos- and November, and visited the Syrian Arab Republic tile entity and approved the disruption of utility and in April. fuel supplies. The United Nations International Independent In the latter half of the year, Israel, the interna- Investigation Commission (uniiic) continued to in- tional community and the pa began a dialogue that vestigate the 14 February 2005 assassination of former led to the resumption of peace talks and a conference, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 oth- convened by the United States and attended by the ers. The Security Council inviteduniiic to extend its Secretary-General, in Annapolis, Maryland, United technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities in the States, on 27 November. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud investigations of the assassinations of Mr. Eido, Mr. Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas reached a Joint Ghanem and Mr. el-Hajj. Understanding, pledging to re-launch the peace pro- On 6 February, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, cess through bilateral negotiation and supporting a an international criminal tribunal for the prosecution two-State solution. of criminal acts relating to the assassination of Mr. The Middle East Quartet (European Union, Rus- Hariri, was established by an agreement between the sian Federation, United Nations, United States) con- United Nations and Lebanon. The Security Council, tinued to promote the road map initiative endorsed by acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United the Security Council in 2003. The road map aimed Nations, endorsed the agreement on 30 May. The pro- to achieve progress through parallel and reciprocal visions of the agreement and the Tribunal’s Statute en- steps by Israel and the pa in the political, security, tered into force on 10 June. Subsequently, the Secretary- economic, humanitarian and institution-building General appointed Daniel Bellemare (Canada) as the areas, under an international monitoring system. In Tribunal’s Prosecutor and established a selection panel June, Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United for the appointment of judges. On 21 December, an Kingdom, was appointed as Quartet Representative. agreement was signed between the United Nations and In Lebanon, political divisions deepened in 2007, the Netherlands concerning the Tribunal’s headquar- rendering more difficult the fulfilment of various ters, which was to be located at The Hague. 434 Middle East 435 The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon uni( - mobilize international assistance to the Palestinians, fil) continued to cooperate closely with the Lebanese working closely with donors and coordination bod- Armed Forces with a view to consolidating the new ies; help identify and secure the international support strategic military and security environment in southern needed to address the institutional governance needs Lebanon. Unifil created a stable operational area as a of the Palestinian State, focusing as a matter of ur- basis for international efforts to revitalize the political gency on the rule of law; develop plans to promote process leading to a permanent ceasefire. On 24 June, Palestinian economic development, including private a bomb attack killed six unifil peacekeepers serving sector partnerships, by building on previously agreed with the Spanish contingent. The unifil mandate was frameworks, especially concerning access and freedom extended for a one-year period until 31 August 2008. of movement; and liaise with other countries in sup- In May, the Secretary-General, in an agreement port of the agreed Quartet objectives. It was envisaged with the Lebanese Government, established the that, as from 1 September, Mr. Blair would spend sig- United Nations Independent Border Assessment nificant time in the region, working with the parties Team. The Team visited Lebanon from 27 May to 15 and with others to help create viable, lasting govern- June to assess the monitoring of the Lebanese-Syrian ment institutions representing all Palestinians. Mr. border and reported back to the Security Council on Blair’s office would be located in Jerusalem. its findings and recommendations. On 24 August [S/2007/508], the Council took note The mandate of the United Nations Disengage- of the arrangements proposed in the Secretary- ment Observer Force (undof) in the Golan Heights General’s letter. was extended twice. The United Nations Truce Su- Appointment of Special Coordinator. On pervision Organization continued to assist unifil and 15 May [S/2007/292], the Secretary-General informed undof in their tasks. the Council President of his intention to appoint The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Pal- Michael C. Williams (United Kingdom) as the United estine Refugees in the Near East continued to provide Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace education, health and social services to over 4 million Pal- Process and as his Personal Representative to the Pal- estinian refugees living in and outside camps in the estine Liberation Organization (plo) and the Palestin- West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as in Jordan. ian Authority (pa), succeeding Alvaro de Soto (Peru). During the year, the Special Committee to Inves- On 18 May [S/2007/293], the Council took note of the tigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of Secretary-General’s intention. the Palestinian People and Other Arabs in the Occu- On 28 November [S/2007/690], the Secretary-Gen- pied Territories reported to the General Assembly on eral informed the Council President of his intention to the situation in the West Bank, including East Jeru- replace Mr. Williams with Robert H. Serry (Nether- salem, and in the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. lands). On 30 November [S/2007/691], the Council took The Committee on the Exercise on the Inalienable note of the Secretary-General’s intention. Rights of the Palestinian People continued to mobi- lize international support for the Palestinians. Occupied Palestinian Territory Israel and Palestine brought to the attention of the Peace process Secretary-General and the Security Council Presi- dent information on attacks committed by either side Quartet activities. The Middle East Quartet (Eu- throughout the year [A/ES-10/376-S/2007/5, A/61/705- ropean Union, Russian Federation, United Nations, S/2007/23, A/ES-10/377-S/2007/37, A/ES-10/378-S/2007/58, United States) continued to monitor the political and A/61/729-S/2007/60, A/ES-10/379-S/2007/75, A/61/755- economic situation in the Middle East throughout the S/2007/101, A/ES-10/381-S/2007/109, A/ES-10/382- year. Its representatives met on 2 February [SG/2122], S/2007/119, A/61/787-S/2007/129, A/61/814-S/2007/157, A/ 9 February [SG/2123], 21 February [SG/2124], 21 March ES-10/383-S/2007/192, A/61/864-S/2007/217, A/ES-10/384- [SG/2125], 30 May [SG/2128], 27 June [SG/2129], 19 S/2007/225, S/2007/252, A/61/904-S/2007/270, A/61/910- July [SG/2130], 23 September [SG/2132], 27 November S/2007/285, A/61/915-S/2007/291, A/ES-10/385-S/2007/298, [SG/2133] and 17 December [SG/2134]. A/ES-10/386-S/2007/308, A/61/930-S/2007/316, A/61/932- On 22 August [S/2007/507], the Secretary-General S/2007/318, A/ES-10/387-S/2007/322, A/61/953-S/2007/348, informed the Council President that on 27 June the A/ES-10/388-S/2007/373, A/ES-10/390-S/2007/387, A/ Quartet had appointed Tony Blair, former Prime ES-10/391-S/2007/397, A/ES-10/392-S/2007/405, A/ Minister of the United Kingdom, as Quartet Repre- ES-10 /393-S/2007/411, A/ES-10/394-S/2007/459, A/ sentative to help the Palestinians build the institutions ES-10 /395-S/2007/475, A/ES-10/396-S/2007/495, A/ and economy of a viable State.
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