On Wednesday, the Security Council will convene a high-level debate on “Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace.” Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. The meeting is a fitting occasion to ask a simple question: Who will actually be doing the job of mediating in the Middle East […]
Tag: middle east
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The recent move by Iran—and now the US—to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran is more than a regional escalation. It affects one of the most strategically vital trade routes in the global economy. Before the outbreak of hostilities, roughly 20-25% of the world’s oil and gas […]
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Christian Bueger on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the case for UN involvement.
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On February 19th, the Board of Peace held its first meeting in Washington, DC, bringing together representatives from more than two dozen countries that have accepted President Trump’s invitation to join. This makes Gaza the first test of a new model of international governance—one that promises stabilization without resolving political authority. The Board of Peace, […]
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Elise Ketelaars on Iraq’s post-US, post-UNAMI moment and the challenge of building durable security institutions.
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Laurie Nathan on why Gaza’s ceasefire remains fragile and lessons from other ceasefires.
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President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan and the New York Declaration on a two-state solution have created an opening for peace in Gaza—though one that is fragile and fraught with danger. These blueprints are wide in scope but light on detail where it matters, including on stabilization support, which must be carefully designed if it […]
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Around 1.3 billion people experience significant disability—around 16% of the world’s population. This number is generally even higher in conflict-affected areas. Yet persons with disabilities are relatively invisible in humanitarian action, peacebuilding efforts, and other activities across the peace continuum. We are now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the women, peace, and security agenda and the […]
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Never has the cliché that we are at a pivotal moment in Middle East diplomacy been more accurate. Yet at this critical juncture, the post of UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) has remained vacant for months. It is time to appoint a new envoy and restore the UN’s political role […]
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The news of the release of hostages and a breakthrough for Gaza—one that could finally bring an end to Israel’s campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing, enable access for humanitarian aid, and initiate the gradual withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the strip—is cause for profound relief and cautious optimism. It also warrants […]
