U.S. Proposes New Framework for Middle East Peace
The United States has circulated a new draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, suggesting that a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood may now be achievable. This initiative comes in the wake of a U.S.-brokered truce that halted the two-year Israel-Hamas war. The document, viewed by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), represents the latest in a series of American-penned drafts aimed at establishing a lasting political horizon for the region.
Key Conditions and Security Arrangements
The draft resolution outlines specific preconditions for moving forward. It states that the path to statehood is contingent upon the Palestinian Authority undergoing significant reforms and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip being substantially advanced. While the document references reforms "as outlined in various proposals," it does not publicly define the precise demands Washington has of the PA.
On security, the text details that the Israeli military will begin a phased withdrawal from Gaza, but only according to "benchmarks and timetables to be determined jointly with the security forces, the guarantor states and the United States." Even after this withdrawal, a limited Israeli security presence would remain to defend against "any resurgent terror threat." A central pillar of the resolution is the creation of an international stabilization force for the Strip, which the Trump administration reportedly wants to have operational by the end of the year.
Diplomatic Manoeuvres and a Fragile Ceasefire
The draft resolution commits the United States to establishing a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for "peaceful and prosperous coexistence." A spokesman for the U.S. mission to the UN urged the Security Council to "seize this historic moment," while also warning that any effort to "sow discord now" has "grave, tangible and entirely avoidable consequences for Palestinians in Gaza," acknowledging the current ceasefire is "fragile." This remark was widely seen as a reference to a competing draft resolution submitted by Russia.
The Russian version notably omits mention of the Peace Board, which former President Donald Trump has said he would lead and which Washington intends to serve as a transitional authority in Gaza. For the U.S. draft to pass, it must secure the support of at least nine of the Security Council’s 15 members and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members, including the United States, Russia, and China. The timeline for a vote remains unclear as negotiations continue.
