Dear UN Human Rights Council: Hungary and the Situation in Palestine -By Imani Olateju

Background of the problem

The crisis situation in Palestine is over the struggle for territory. Palestine and Israel are in conflict over an extensive piece of land, the Gaza Strip, originally claimed to belong to Palestine since the Israelites went into exile under Babylon from 586BCE – 538BCE.

The Arab-Israeli war of 1967 caused Israel to annex old Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The Sinai Peninsular was returned to Egypt when it signed a peace accord with Israel in 1979. The other territories are still occupied by Israel. The continued occupation of West Bank and Gaza caused the Intifada (uprising) under the late Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Yasser Arafat. The first Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993, and the second began in 2000 and is ongoing.

The situation is deadly and human lives are being lost. Palestinians are being killed enmasse each day.

Country Position/Policy

Hungary has diplomatic ties with the Palestinian State and the State of Israel. The president of Hungary, Laslo Solyom in 2008 told Mahmud Abass, the State of Palestine’s President, “Israel, as any other state, has its right to self-defence but this right can only be exercised with respect for international law and the protection of civilian lives. ”

Hungary’s position on the situation is that they are not against Israel and they are not against Palestine since they have diplomatic ties with both of them, but since Israel is ready to discuss the situation but Palestine is not, they are going more with Israel than Palestine.

Hungary however does not want any more refugees in Hungary, so they will rather the war ends.

Past International Actions

By the UN Resolutions 38/180: December 19, 1983, there were calls for all nations to suspend or sever all diplomatic, economic and technological ties with Israel. Condemnation of Israel on various topics including occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights, war in Lebanon and the annexation of Jerusalem has been established.

The Annapolis Declaration in United States issued after the Annapolis Conference on Middle East peace on 27 November 2007, also called for the revival of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process and implementation of the “Roadmap for peace”.

Possible Solutions

Hungary believes that steps should be taken by both Israel and Palestine to end the war and guarantee the respect of human rights.

According to Hungary’s 2011 Foreign Policy Paper after the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, “Deriving from our values, as well as on grounds of family bonds and friendships held by a significant segment of Hungarian society, Hungary has a prominent interest in the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In Hungary’s view, this should be achieved through negotiations, with both sides refraining from unilateral actions and rejecting violence. The settlement should include the mutual recognition of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, as well as of the right of Israel to an existence as a state and to security. Hungary deems it especially important that, until a final settlement is reached, steps should be taken by both sides to warrant the personal security of the population, to guarantee the respect of human rights and to safeguard the cultural heritage. Hungary deems it desirable and actively promotes the EU’s unified action for an acceptable settlement, as soon as possible, of the conflict that has been dragging on for decades.”

Hungary believes that until Israel and Palestine resolve their issues, there would be no personal security and respect of human rights in Palestine. Hungary would like an end to the crisis in Palestine and hopes to come to a consensus with other countries of the United Nations to achieve this.

Imani Olateju, a student of The Learning Place Lekki, Lagos, is an imaginative 11 year old girl in her final elementary school programme. She likes drawing when she’s bored. She is creative, humorous and adventurous.

This is the presentation of Imani Olateju at the Midwest Model United Nations Conference presently holding in New York, where young students are allowed to speak to issues of conflict resolution and world peace, and on behalf of countries other than their own. It seeks to enhance the perspectives of the young in early preparation for global responsibility and leadership. Though a Nigerian, here she speaks on behalf of the Hungarian position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.