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Joint Crisis: -Palestine Conflict Chairs: Annie Lubin ‘19 and Thomas Teunissen ‘19 Rapporteurs: RJ Schechner ‘20 and Elizabeth Mulgrew De Laire ‘19

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Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the Joint Crisis committees of CAMUN 2018! We are Thomas Teunissen and Annie Lubin and we will be your chairs in simulating the current day Israeli-Palestinian situation. We are both junior boarders here at CA and have been involved in Model UN since freshman year. We are really looking forward to meeting all of you, and seeing what you create over the course of our short yet meaningful committee sessions.

The topic of Israel and Palestine is often discussed at Model UN conferences, but it's for good reason. The complex dual history, combined with the unending points of contention converge to create a seemingly impossible situation. However, we do believe that this is a crisis worth tackling, and who better to do so than all of you. We have prepared this topic guide to give you an overview of the history of the issue, and, due to the fact that this is a crisis, a summary of the current day situation and the political figures you will be representing in committee. Although we have given you this resource, do not let it be your only one. Succeeding in committee requires, first and foremost, an understanding of the topic and your character. Therefore, so that we can see the depth of your thinking as to make committee as enjoyable as possible, we require position papers from all delegates before we convene on March 31st. If you send them early enough we will try to give feedback, so sending them in as early as possible would be advantageous. So, go forth and research, research, research.

Finally, remember to have fun! Model UN is an amazing opportunity to explore the world of international politics, , and delve deeply into a current day topic. It is also a chance to meet new people and learn from them. So, don’t hesitate to put yourself out there, think deeply and participate. You will not regret it!

Should you have any questions, feel free to email us at these addresses: Israel: a​ [email protected] Palestine: ​[email protected] Position papers should be sent to the relevant chair.

Much luck and we look forward to meeting you on March 31st!

Sincerely, Annie Lubin ‘19 and Thomas Teunissen ‘19

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History

Balfour Declaration and British Mandate

Following the defeat of the at the hands of the allied forces in 1918, the League of Nations redistributed land, formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, to countries such as , Greece and Britain1. The parcel of land previously known as Palestine was created by a League of Nations’ mandate, with its governance entrusted to Britain. Before the creation of however, the British foreign secretary, Arthur James Balfour, composed a letter to Baron Rothschild of the British Jewry. In this letter, written in 1917 and later named the , Balfour voiced the British Government’s support for “​the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”. Although this declaration was not the resounding approval that many zionists wanted, it did garner support from the the principal allied forces and was included in the Palestinian Mandate that was formed one year later. However, the promise of a new Jewish homeland was later altered, recommending a cap on the number of immigrants allowed into Palestine.2

Partition of Palestine3

Following the end of World War II, the number of zionists and Jewish sympathizers was at an all time high. One result of this newfound support was the introduction of the Palestine issue to the newly founded . Within the UN, the old Palestinian Mandate was abolished and a new partition plan was created. This new plan, enacted in 1947, designated three regions of the previous Palestinian Mandate to be Jewish and four to be Arab, as well as placing the city of under international administration. Of course, this decision was embraced by zionists and heavily opposed by many Arab states. Following this partition, on May 14, 1948, D​ avid Ben-Gurion along with other Jewish leaders proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. The same day Harry S. Truman, then president of the , recognized the newly formed Israel as a state.4

Arab-Israeli War​ (Al-Nakba, War of Independence)

Immediately following Israel’s declaration of statehood in 1948, Arab forces from neighboring countries including , Transjordan, , and moved into territory alloted by the UN as Jewish territory in an attempt to curtail the creation of a Israeli state. Fighting ensued between the Arab and Israeli forces with the two sides winning and losing different territories, while losing troops on both sides. The war ended in 1949 with armistice agreements signed by all

1 http://www.history.com/topics/ottoman-empire 2 https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration 3https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/nov-29-1947-united-nations-partitions-palestine-allowi ng-for-creation-of-israel/ 4 https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/us-israel ​

CAMUN 2018: Joint Crisis Page 3 of 13 parties.5 Some consequences of the war included, a 21% increase in Israeli territory and the subsequent of over 700,000 from those lands as well as the the granting of the territory of Gaza to Egypt.6 Another important factor to note with this event is how it emphasizes the trend of a split history between Israel and Palestine. This will be important in committee, as this is one event of many that will be referred to differently depending on which committee you are in. In the Israeli side, this will be referred to as the War of Independence but on the Palestinian side it will be referred to as Al-Nakba which translates to “the disaster”.

Further Fighting

Although an armistice was signed, the Arab-Israeli war was just the beginning of years of fighting between Israel and Palestine. The ideological fighting worsened as well, with other nations supporting one side or another. Following the first Arab-Israeli War was the Crisis in 1956 (also known to Palestinians as the Tripartite Aggression, or to as the Sinai War)7, in which Israel attempted to claim the , but Egypt eventually repelled them from the territory and regained control. In 1957 Israel embarked upon a new mission to gain as much territory as they could in what came to be known as the Six Day War. During this period, in response to the apparent mobilization of Arab forces, Israel conducted a preemptive strike on Egypt’s Air Force. Within the ensuing six days Israel was able to capture the , the , the , the of Jerusalem and the . These territories subsequently became some of the most contested regions within the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Six Day War put more than one million Palestinians under Israeli jurisdiction and created hundreds of thousands of refugees.8 Later there was the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Ramadan War to Palestinians or the to Israelis. Conflicting sources have different reasons as to why this war started, but what can be agreed upon is that forces from Arab countries (Egypt, Syria, etc.) began to advance into previously-won Israeli territory. The attack was strategically staged on Yom Kippur, a day of atonement for practicing , and therefore much of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was not prepared to defend against an attack. However, with help from the United States they were able to secure an Israeli victory at a heavy cost. The end of the war was also accompanied by a UN ceasefire which was eventually accepted by Israel.9

Camp David Accords

The 1978 were a momentous agreement in the course of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that began the process of peace talks between Israel, its allies and surrounding Arab nations. In September of 1978, the Egyptian president, ​Anwar el-Sadat, following earlier attempts at direct peace talks with Israel, traveled to Camp David in the USA to

5 https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/arab-israeli-war 6 https://www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine/nakba 7 http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/suez-crisis 8 https://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War 9 https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/arab-israeli-war-1973

CAMUN 2018: Joint Crisis Page 4 of 13 meet with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem, United States President Carter and other to barter a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. The final agreement outlined the path to peace within the as well as providing more tangible incentives to reach peace. Among these was the agreement that Israel would return the contested Sinai territory back to Egypt, the United States would provide aid to Egypt, and Egypt would recognize Israel as a state, legitimizing it as country in the eyes of the . However, this plan backfired as Egypt was expelled from the Arab League in 1979.

First Palestinian Intifada

The First Palestinian Intifada (or uprising) started on December 9th, 1987 when an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) truck collided with a civilian car, killing four Palestinians. This incident sparked a series of uprisings, mainly targeting the Israeli army and its infrastructure. Israel responded by deploying over 80,000 troops armed with live ammunition and with orders to restore peace to the West Bank and Gaza. Within the first year, around 311 Palestinians were killed, many of them children or teenagers. The First Palestinian Intifada also featured intra-palestinian violence with over 800 palestinians convicted of aiding Israel. The intifada was heavily televised, with international media often portraying Israeli violence towards Palestinian teenagers. The intifada also gave birth to , an anti-Israeli terrorist group. The Gaza-based group found that the PLO was too secular and did not represent the true feelings of Palestinians. Around the time of the Intifada, the West Bank and Gaza strip saw a mass influx of new Israeli inhabitants, or settlers. Israeli's built these settlements for religious reasons (to spread the Jewish faith), political reasons, or simply for cheap housing. With these settlers came more soldiers to protect them, leading to further hostility between the Palestinians and Israel.

Oslo Accords

To prevent any large scale conflict in the region, in 1993 the international community presented the , a treaty aimed at stabilizing the relationship between Israel and Palestine. The Oslo Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, granting limited representation and self-governance to the Palestinians. However, many were opposed to the accords, namely Hamas and far-right Israeli groups. Multiple protests occurred on both sides, leading to continued violence. Soon after, Israeli Prime Minister was assassinated by an Israeli Nationalist, signalling the intensity of the situation. Throughout the 1990’s, several peace attempts were made, yet none proved decisive.

The

With peace talks stalling and a Palestinian state seeming improbable, a second Intifada occurred in 2000. As the intifada raged on, Israeli society became much more hostile towards Palestine. Public approval of a Palestinian state declined and Israeli right-wing politics thrived. The second Intifada also led to many more deaths, with 3300 Palestinian and 1000 Israeli casualties. As the Second

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Intifada continued, Israel implemented new measures, such as an intensified border wall and militarized checkpoints, to combat the perceived Palestinian threat. In 2005 Israel withdrew from Gaza, leaving a power vacuum that Hamas quickly filled. Hamas distanced itself from the Palestinian authority of the West Bank, leading to tensions between the two sides. To combat Hamas, Israel put Gaza under a massive blockade, leaving many of its citizens without basic human rights.

2005-now

Since 2005, Hamas has strengthened its position in Gaza, with conflict with Israel erupting every few years. Although deals have been reached between Hamas and Israel, often for prisoner swaps, peace between the two sides does not seem likely, especially as Hamas continues to promote its regime of terror towards Israel. In 2012, the Palestinian Authority successfully applied to become a UN non-member state, a first step towards Palestinian power legitimisation, albeit a symbolic one. Israel wholeheartedly denies the current existence of a Palestinian state, stating that such a state can only be created through successful negotiations.

Questions to consider

1. What is your main objective in this committee? 2. What are your main points of contention within the conflict (e.g. refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, resource allocation etc.)? 3. Do you have a past history of compromise or are you set in your beliefs? 4. If you believe peace to be an option, under what conditions would you consider it? 5. Among the other members of your committee, who would have you worked with in the past and who would you be willing to work with in the future?

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Members: Israel

1. ​(Prime Minister) Aside from being Prime Minister, Netanyahu is the leader of the Party. Before becoming Prime Minister he was the Foreign Affairs Minister from 2002–2003 and Finance Minister from 2003–2005. Netanyahu has been one of the leading supporters of the one-state solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Has strong connections with other political leaders in other countries. Can command the Likud Party.

2. ​ (Israel to UN) Before he became a UN Ambassador, Danon was part of the for the Likud Party where he was considered one of Netanyahu’s biggest critics within the Party. Danon believes in the one-state solution and believes that holding onto the West Bank is essential for the future of Israel.

Portfolio Powers: ​Can negotiate deals with other countries who are allies of Israel.

3. ​(Minister of Defense) Serving as a member of the Knesset since 1998, Lieberman held various positions such as chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office, and head of the Party. Lieberman supports the two-state solution and believes that land swapping is key for the success of a peaceful Israel and Palestine.

Portfolio Powers​: Born in Russia, Lieberman has strong ties with that country and can negotiate arms deals with them. Also, he can command the Yisrael Beiteinu Party.

4.​ G​ adi Eizenkot​ (Chief of Staff of Israeli Defense Force) Eizenkot's goal is to create long periods of peace through military force so that Israel can continue to develop.

Portfolio Powers​: Can allocate funds and troops within the military.

5. Yuval Rotem​ (Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Before taking on his current role, Rotem was the resident ambassador of Israel to and non-resident ambassador to , Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Yuval supports the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Can use his strong ties with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji to negotiate economic and social issues.

6. ​ (Minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs and Minister of Education)

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Bennett is the leader of Party. He does not support a Palestinian state but believes in dividing the West Bank into three sections, where Israel and the Palestinian Authority control different parts.

Portfolio Powers: ​Has strong influence over and educational institutions. In addition, can command the The Jewish Home Party, and has some personal wealth at his disposal.

7. ​(Minister of and Integration) Landver is a member of the Knesset for the Yisrael Beiteinu Party. She supports the two-state solution in addition to encouraging immigrants to come to Israel to increase Jewish immigration.

Portfolio Powers: ​Has strong influence over Zionists and can relocate people.

8. ​ (Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources) Steinitz is also in charge of Israel's Atomic Energy Commission. He believes in the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Has strong influence over scientists and engineers. In addition, he has control over Israel's nuclear weapons and can allocate water and energy plants to some extent.

9. ​ (Minister of the Interior, M​ inister of the Development of the and ​) Deri has strong political ties to the Party.

Portfolio Powers: ​Control over the Shas Party. In addition, can grant citizenship and visas.

10. ​(Minister of Intelligence also Minister of Transportation) Katz is a member of the Likud Party and strongly opposes the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Can control infrastructure and road building, and can evacuate areas if necessary.

11. ​ (Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs, and Minister of Information) Erdan is a member of the Likud Party and has fought for strengthening ties with Evangelical Christians in the Knesset. Erdan opposes a Palestinian state and supports a one-state solution.

Portfolio Powers:​ Has strong influence over Evangelical Christians, and has access to intel about possible attacks from enemies.

12. David M Friedman ​(USA Ambassador to Israel) Friedman was an advisor to during his presidential campaign. Friedman supports Israel annexing parts of the West Bank along with encouraging the two-state solution.

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Portfolio Powers: ​Can negotiate deals and borrow military and economic support from the United States.

13. NATO Representative NATO supports a two-state solution and is considering whether to get involved in the Israel- Palestine conflict. If involved, NATO would patrol the and all Palestinian territory in hopes of stopping significant threats.

Portfolio Powers:​ Can negotiate arms deals between the United States and European countries.

14. ​(Minister of Regional Cooperation) Hanegbi is a member of the Likud Party. He is considered a security expert and supports the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers​: Can use influence to organize events and riots.

15. ​ (Minister of Justice) Shaked is a member of the Jewish Home Party. She is one the most influential legislators on the Knesset and she strongly opposes the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers:​ Can imprison criminals in Israel. Can determine a sentence if a court case is called for.

16. ​ (Minister of Finance) Kahlon is a member of the Likud Party. He supports the two-state solution but is pessimistic about it being a good solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Can control laborers and commerce in Israel. Additionally, he has some negotiating power with other nations on economic issues.

17. ​(Minister for Social Equality) Gamliel is a member of the Likud Party. Gamliel works to promote minorities in Israel, especially senior citizens and women. She opposes the two-state solution.

Portfolio Powers​: Has strong influence over minorities.

18. ​ (Minister of Welfare and Social Services) Katz is a member of the Likud Party. Supports the one-state solution.

Portfolio Powers: ​Can allocate financial resources to refugees.

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Members: Palestine

1. M​ ahmoud Abbas ​(President of the and Palestinian National Authority) He was elected President in 2005 to serve a 4 year term, but was voted into office indefinitely in 2009. Because of this, Hamas refuses to recognize him as president. Abbas has also been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 2004, and is a member of the Party.

Portfolio Powers​: Has great amounts of influence in the Fatah Party and with local allies.

2. Dr. Rami Hamdallah ​(Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior) Dr. Rami Hamdallah acts as Prime Minister of Palestine and is a member of the Fatah Party, although he has often been cited as an independent. Hamdallah assumed office in 2013. As a member of the academia, Hamdallah has always had a strong belief in the power of education, stating that the “only investment Palestinians can make is in education.”

Portfolio powers​: leads the parliament and its missions inside Palestine. Can organize talks with Hamas and local leaders. Has a strong in academia and could use this to help Palestine.

3. Dr. Ziad Abu Amr ​(Deputy Prime Minister) As Amr is not affiliated with any one party, he has often led talks between Hamas and Fatah. Amr strongly believes in representation of opposition groups in the government.

Portfolio powers​: Has strong connections with youth leaders and can play a major role in talks between the government and Hamas. Used to be Foreign Minister and still has a few connections. As Deputy Prime Minister, Amr has a strong connection with Hamdallah.

4. Dr. Riad Al-Malki​ (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Dr. Al-Malki is an independent politician. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he is in charge of international relations; his main focuses are garnering support for the State of Palestine, stopping Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and stopping Hamas. Before becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs he worked in engineering and won the European Peace Prize in 2000.

Portfolio Powers​: Has strong connections to leaders in the Middle East and other allies around the world, especially in Europe. Has strong influence with older, traditional voters.

5. Dr. Shukri Bishara ​(Minister of Finance, Minister of Planning)

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Former chief executive at Arab Bank, and politically independent, Bishara has spent most of his career outside of government, mainly in finance. While GDP growth is less of a concern for Palestine, the and poverty in the West Bank have become issues that Bishara has fixated on. Bishara blames Israel and its restrictions of freedom of movement as the main hinderers of Palestinian growth.

Portfolio Powers​: Bishara is in charge of financial planning and the allocation of funds. With his many connections to the corporate world, Bishara can help corporations move to and support Palestine. Furthermore, with connections to the Arab Bank, Bishara could secure donations to help the government.

6. Mr. Ali Abu Diak ​(Minister of Justice) Diak has been working in the legal profession for many years, working for several Palestinian NGOs. An activist at heart, Diak has been very active in demonstrations, gaining support from the protesting youth.

Portfolio Powers​: In charge of the legal structure of the State of Palestine. Has immense influence over the prison system, and essential in keeping the image of Palestine clean and responding to illegal acts.

7. Mr. Adnan Al-Husseini​ (Minister of Jerusalem Affairs) As Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Al-Husseini acts as the governor of Jerusalem. A member of the powerful Al-Husseini family, he has a lot of influence among the arab population in Jerusalem. As Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital of Palestine, keeping this city and its people safe is a top priority for Al-Husseini. While most of the arab population in Palestine are Shafi Sunni, Al-Husseini and his family are Hanafi Sunni.

Portfolio Powers​: As a member of the Al-Husseini family, Adnan Al-Husseini has many supporters in Jerusalem, mainly older people and Islamic groups. Furthemore, he can organize protests and movements within the city.

8. D​ r. Jawad Awwad ​(Minister of Health) As Minister of Health, Dr. Jawad Awwad is responsible for the welfare of the Palestinian people. Alongside the UN, Awwad works to eradicate health inequalities and promote sanitation and clean water.

Portfolio powers​: Leads the fight for the health of the Palestinian people. Can send first-responders to accident sites and organize health camps for refugees. Has a great sphere of influence in rural areas. Can request aid from foreign nations or from the UN.

9. D​ r. Khawla Shakhshir ​(Minister of Education)

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Education has long been a resource for Palestinians to learn and preserve their identity, and the promotion of higher education has been a priority for the . The Ministry of Education also seeks to collaborate with other ministries to promote and implement the five programs of the Palestinian curriculum.

Portfolio Powers​: Can dictate what Palestinian youths learn. Popular with youths, can lead strikes with both students and . With connections to academia, Shakshir could help promote the Palestinian cause in international education.

10. Dr. Allam Mousa ​(Minister of Telecomm. and Info. Technology, Minister of Transportation) Dr. Moussa is in charge of both telecommunications and transportation in Palestine. As Minister of Transportation, he is in charge of creating transportation systems and the maintenance of roads, and he strives to make these environmentally friendly. As minister of Telecommunications, he is in charge of promoting and implementing forms of communication and increasing connectivity between communities through the spread of the Internet.

Portfolio Powers​: Mousa is in charge of supporting roads and could use these to direct resources or human movement. Mousa can also allocate funds to increase connectivity and potentially limit communications between parts of the West Bank.

11. Mr. Shawqi Al-Aissa​ (Minister of Social Development) Al-Aissa focuses on the economic and social development of Palestine. This means promoting empowerment and fighting poverty. Al-Aissa is popular amongst middle-aged and non-traditional voters who are seeking social change. While generally popular in Palestine, Al-Aissa could threaten his position by adopting radically new social policies.

Portfolio Powers​: Al-Aissa is charge of the distribution of aid and pensions. Has strong spheres of influence in the Palestinian prison systems and rural populations.

12. Mr. Ma'moun Abu Shahla​ (Minister of Labor) The Ministry of Labor is focused on creating a better working environment for Palestinian workers and promoting Palestinian companies abroad. Shahla is committed to creating in Palestine while protecting the rights of the workers. The minister is also committed to creating new jobs programs and preventing Israeli settlers from taking Palestinian jobs.

Portfolio Powers​: Has some control of workers in the West Bank. Has a strong connection with the private sector and anti- groups. In charge of wages and foreign investments.

13. M​ r. Nayef Abu Khalaf ​(Minister of Local Government) Khalaf is in charge of the connection between local government and this committee. The Minister of Local Government spearheads cooperation and development of local governments, mainly in

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Portfolio Powers​: Khalaf is the connector between this committee and the people. Khalaf could instruct or consult with local leaders to create action or inaction. Khalaf can promote certain pieces of legislation and help (or hinder) the cooperation between the ministries. Finally, Khalaf can lead local movements and protests.

Sources

1. Beauchamp, Zack. "What is the Nakba?" Vox. March 31, 2014. https://www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine/nakba.​ 2. Education Staff Members "U.S. Recognition of the State of Israel." National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/us-israel​. 3. Historian, Office of the. "The 1973 Arab-Israeli War." U.S. Department of State. n.d. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/arab-israeli-war-1973​. 4. Historian, Office of the. "The Arab-Israeli War of 1948." U.S. Department of State. n.d. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/arab-israeli-war. 5. History.com staff. “Ottoman Empire.” History.com. 2017. Accessed Feb 19, 2018 http://www.history.com/topics/ottoman-empire 6. History.com Staff. "Suez Crisis." History.com. 2009. Accessed February 20, 2018. http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/suez-crisis​. 7. The Learning Network. "Nov. 29, 1947 | U.N. Partitions Palestine, Allowing for Creation of Israel." . November 29, 2011. Accessed February 20, 2018. https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/nov-29-1947-united-nations-partitions-p alestine-allowing-for-creation-of-israel/​. 8. "Balfour Declaration." Encyclopædia Britannica. November 01, 2017. Accessed February 20, 2018. ​https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration.​ 9. "Six-Day War." Encyclopædia Britannica. November 29, 2017. Accessed February 20, 2018. h​ ttps://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War​. 10. “Government of the State of Palestine.” S​ tate of Palestine Mission to the United Nations​, State of Palestine, palestineun.org/about-palestine/government-of-the-state-of-palestine/.

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