By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -A United Nations-backed plan outlining “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians describes what role the Palestinian Authority could play.
The seven-page plan is the result of an international conference at the U.N. in July – hosted by Saudi Arabia and France – on the decades-long conflict. The U.S. and Israel boycotted the event.
The U.N.-backed initiative is unlikely to be discussed at a meeting on Monday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Instead, the leaders are set to consider a 21-point peace plan Washington presented to Arab and Muslim states last week aimed at ending the war, freeing the remaining hostages and promoting Israeli-Palestinian dialogue on peaceful coexistence.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution to endorse the two-state plan on September 12. The resolution received 142 votes in favor and 10 against, while 12 countries abstained.
The plan backed by the U.N. states “the war in Gaza must end now” and supports mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
In terms of a potential Palestinian Authority role, the plan states:
* Following a Gaza ceasefire, a transitional administrativecommittee must be immediately established to operate in Gazaunder the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority. * It supports the deployment of a temporary internationalstabilization mission – upon invitation by the PalestinianAuthority and backed by the U.N. Security Council – withappropriate regional and international support. * It says this mission could evolve depending on the needsand would provide protection to the Palestinian civilianpopulation, support transfer of internal securityresponsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, providecapacity-building support for the Palestinian State and itssecurity forces, and security guarantees for Israel and thePalestinians, including monitoring of the ceasefire and of afuture peace agreement, in full respect of their sovereignty. * The plan reaffirms the need for the Palestinian Authorityto continue implementing its credible reform agenda withinternational support, particularly from the European Union andthe Arab League, focusing on good governance, transparency,fiscal sustainability, combating incitement and hate speech,service provision, business climate and development. * It welcomed a commitment by Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas to holding democratic and transparent general andpresidential elections throughout the Occupied PalestinianTerritory, including East Jerusalem, within a year. Theseelections would be under international auspices,enable democratic competition between Palestinian actorscommitted to respecting the Palestinian Liberation Organizationpolitical platform, its international commitments and therelevant U.N. resolutions. The elections would allow for a newgeneration of elected representatives to take responsibility.Upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority, the EU committedto continued support to the electoral process. * The U.N.-backed plan commits to mobilizing political andfinancial support for the Palestinian Authority as it advancesits reforms to help it strengthen institutional capacities,implement its reform agenda, and uphold its responsibilitiesacross the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It calls on morecountries to pledge increased financial support and forconvening, as soon as possible, an international donors’meeting.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Don Durfee, William Maclean)
