Israel-Palestine Conflict and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions: Barriers to the Two States’ Accord

Abstract

Since World War II, the Israel-Palestine conflict remains one of the most enduring geopolitical crises, with several interventions at resolution failing to yield lasting peace. The October 2023 escalation between Israel and Hamas resulted in severe humanitarian consequences, underlining the persistent stalemate in diplomatic efforts. Over the decades, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has issued numerous resolutions advocating a two-state solution, yet Israel’s continued occupation and settlement expansion have obstructed progress. This study examines Israel’s response to UNSC resolutions and its broader implications for achieving a viable two-state accord through multilateral diplomacy. The study adopted a qualitative research approach through the lens of key concept in realism (security) as an underpinning theory. It combines both primary and secondary documents to achieve its purpose. Secondary documents such as journals, thesis reports and books. Primary document involves open-ended interview questions for 10 targeted respondents (academics). The documents were analysed using thematic analysis propounded by Braun and Clarke (2006) to generate themes and insights. The study finds that Israel’s continuous settlement and occupation of Palestinian territories underscores her negative response to the resolutions which contributed to the collapse of various peace accords. Israel relations with other regional players, however, continues to flourish. Among mediators, Israel also enjoys strategic alliance particularly with the United States, where as the UN inability to independently demonstrate power or sanction Israel has faltered her role as an agent of change for solution in the conflict. As long as international law remains unenforced, and geopolitical interests dictate mediation efforts, the plausibility of resolving the conflict remains uncertain. This underscores how regional alliances and external influences continue to shape the trajectory of the conflict, making long-term stability elusive.