Position paper for State of Palestine (Observer)
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours |
| Paper text: | |
| Palestine recognizes the growing importance of regulation needed for advancements made into space. While advances in technology can lead to benefits for humankind across the globe, without good common practice this could lead to further destruction. The overall rise in space debris can make advancements into space for other developing countries more difficult, and overtime, which would reduce their ability to advance and compete with other nations. Additionally, advances in communication and warfare could become detrimental to nations and civilian populations that do not have similar access to these technologies, as we have seen throughout history. This could lead to further conflict and the oppression of marginalized groups and more disrupted nation-states. Palestine fully supports the development of norms, rules and principles aiming at the reduction in space threats. That way it can protect its populace from more invasive external intelligence gathering (without our consent), and devastation from its aggressors with their drone technology. Palestine calls on the international community to acknowledge the same potential dangers and to enact legislation through agreed upon peaceful principles. We propose strengthening the regulation that came from the Registration Convention of 1976 which requires nations that launch objects into space to register them. This action will monitor the amount of space debris closer to allow for future expansion. In addition, Palestine proposes expanding the consequences of the Space Liability Convention of 1972 to address intended damage more specifically and widen the scope of damage to include any civilian or military interference. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects |
| Paper text: | |
| Palestine has been devastated by a long history of conflict, and this is in no small part to the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Civilian populations are often the most harmed by these illicit arms which are used by nefarious groups to enact violence and oppression. Regions like Latin America, Eastern Europe, regions of Africa and the Middle East are most affected by these weapons. These weapons mostly originate from advanced nations and Palestine calls on these nations to do what they are dutied to do in halting the spread of weapons to these already violent and devastated areas. Increased security and investigation from all powers that have the capacity, should be tracing the origin and the spread of these weapons and working with other nations to halt this illegal network. Palestine envisions a more protected and peaceful world especially for nations that are developing and its civilian population. We call on nations that manufacture these weapons as well as those that are affected by the violence they cause to develop concrete actions that will lead to the safety and security of the globe. Palestine calls for action to improve stockpile management from nations with large amounts of weapons. To enhance border security especially with countries bordering high violence areas. Lastly, to improve the tracing of weapon transfers between countries with the goal of decreasing the usage of these weapons as illicit transfers to nefarious groups. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence |
| Paper text: | |
| Historically, border restrictions on the State of Palestine have hindered its ability to
contribute to and benefit from the global economy. Thus, the topic of globalization as a
mechanism to establish an increasingly developed globe has become a priority. While the
international community has made noteworthy progress in its mission towards an
integrated globe, it is also clear that the benefits and costs are unevenly distributed among
nations. Consequently, developing countries such as Palestine face economic dependence
rather than legitimate interdependence. For instance, The war on Gaza has had a
devastating effect on our country. The destruction of infrastructure and subsequent collapse
of our economy has led to widespread unemployment and poverty. This is not an issue that
we can take on alone, however, it is important that the State of Palestine has a central role in
the rebuilding process. Therefore, the State of Palestine wishes to advocate for the
implementation of policies that allow smaller, less wealthy countries to play a bigger role in
global economic decision making.
The State of Palestine would like to explore the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and emphasize the importance of committing to this initiative. In particular, goal 17, which addresses the role of developed countries in the global economy and their ability to provide support to developing nations, aligns with Palestine’s desire to innovate the mobilization of finances in a way best suited to the global circumstances. Palestine also supports the UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and their commitment to ensuring that all countries, weak and powerful, have the necessary resources to uphold SDGs. Proper execution of this plan has the potential to create a major turning point in our progress towards achieving SDGs. Finally, Palestine seeks to expand upon the ideas of the newly adopted New York Declaration. The “Gaza Recovery and Reconstruction Plan” serves as a good general strategy, but solidifying a detailed roadmap will ease the worries of both Palestinian state officials and the citizens of Palestine. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind |
| Paper text: | |
| The State of Palestine recognizes climate change as one of humanity’s greatest threats. It's an issue that goes beyond environmental degradation but also includes aspects of survival, justice, and equality. Palestine faces severe environmental challenges, including rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, frequent droughts, and land degradation. These effects have worsened the problems involving food insecurity, water scarcity, and public health risks. With having less than 70 cubic meters of renewable water per person annually, Palestine ranks among the most water-stressed regions in the world. These difficulties added onto the issues with the ongoing occupation further restricts access to natural resources, hindering the development of sustainable climate solutions. Palestine is just one of many examples of developing nations that are suffering not only due to their own specific disadvantages, but climate change as well. With this, the State of Palestine reaffirms its commitment to the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). These frameworks recognize that while all nations share a duty to protect the environment. Developed countries, of which may be more responsible for the majority of historical emissions, should be willing to bear a greater obligation to assist developing nations through financial, technical, and capacity-building support. Palestine stresses that no nation, especially those most affected by climate change or facing political and economic barriers, should be excluded from climate solutions. The delegation calls for equitable access to the Green Climate Fund and emphasizes transparency and accountability in international climate commitments. Addressing climate change requires inclusivity, cooperation, and justice at every level. The State of Palestine urges the international community to uphold these principles to ensure that every nation, regardless of circumstance, can actively participate in protecting the planet and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination |
| Paper text: | |
| Contention on the issue of self-determination lies within imperialism in the 19th-20th centuries. Imperialist powers throughout the world at those times colonized and exploited a plethora of nations throughout the world and some of those imperial powers continue to exploit other nations throughout the world. The western powers harvest the raw materials of nations from the global south to fuel their economies and industries; this practice destabilizes and robs other nations of their resources and violates their human rights all across the globe. Those currently on top of the global pecking order wish to maintain their positions of global dominance. It is well within the memories of living peoples across the globe of exploitation and colonization of their homelands. Due to this, many nations across the world find themselves passionate about the issue of self determination; as well as of other nations who find themselves politically and economically under the thumb of western powers. The United Nations is a perfect avenue for the issue of self-determination. In Article 1.2 of the United Nations charter it says “To develop friendly nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.” General Assembly resolution 1514 titled “Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” which aimed to end “The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation.” Regarding the matter of whether or not this resolution was successful, the results are mixed. The ending of direct subjugation of many nations was accomplished. However there are many nations across the world that still find themselves under the thumb of other powers, namely Palestine. The United Nations can assist the cause of self-determination through advocacy, diplomatic pressure, and actions undertaken by singular UN member-states. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas |
| Paper text: | |
| The State of Palestine, as a signatory of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, stands firm in its belief that women and girls shall have every right as somebody of the opposite sex. Throughout Palestine’s history, we have worked for equal rights for women; through this The General Union of Palestinian Women was created in 1965 (as part of the PLO) as a way to integrate women into the workforce as well as in policy making decisions. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs was established in 2003 to expand upon Palestine’s commitment to the advancement of the situation of women in Palestine and to formally adopt UN resolutions pertaining to as such going forward. The social advancement of women in Palestine revolves around the foreign policy decisions of Israel, seeing just as its tremendously hard to work or care regarding one's rights when your nation is subject to genocide. The state of Palestine wants to work towards expanding the rights, resources and progress of women in rural areas at home and abroad, and wishes to work on resolutions to advance solutions to this issue. Using the 1995 Beijing Declaration as a blueprint, following the precedent that CEDAW set to create plans and pieces of legislation to support women. Through the expansion of funding for programs regarding expanding education and resources for women. In our justice system, Palestine has a framework put together to help ensure that discrimination against women is halted, however due to Israeli occupation, our justice system is largely inoperable. It’s seen as a non-negotiable aspect for the advancement of women’s rights in Palestine that the Israeli occupation ends, and the killing of innocent Palestinians must be halted immediately. Foreign aid to help rebuild vital infrastructure revolving around women is also highly needed. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Our ocean, our future, our responsibility |
| Paper text: | |
| The State of Palestine affirms that the health of our ocean is a shared and global responsibility that is critically important for sustainable development, climate change, and for the future of all of us. The central debate is no longer about whether there is a crisis or not, it is about who is responsible. As a coastal nation on the Mediterranean, Palestine sees the deterioration of our ocean firsthand. We rely heavily on the sea for our economy and food supply, and the rising sea levels and pollution by other nations threaten to displace our people and contaminate our only water source. However, Palestine's ability to protect the ocean environment and utilize its resources in a healthy way is denied through foreign military occupation combined with an 18 year-long naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. This blockade is an environmental and economic catastrophe for Palestine and makes it impossible for us to fulfill our duties. The blockage restricts our fishermen's and other personnel’s access to our ocean, which collapses ecosystems and destroys their livelihood and natural resources. Even more critically, Palestine additionally cannot use its access to the water for trade, which deprives our people and Palestine of the right of self- determination and cuts Palestine off from any further development, including sustainable wastewater management. Therefore, the state of Palestine demands a solution that is based on accountability and justice. We reaffirm the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR). Developed countries must increase their financial commitments. We need the UN to not only establish legal frameworks but also to enforce them. Solving the many issues in our oceans is impossible under complete occupation. To save our water and with it all of our shared futures and well-being, the international community must first end Gaza's occupation. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations |
| Paper text: | |
| The international community sees continuous blockage of humanitarian assistance on a widespread and international scale. The state of Palestine therefore supports strengthening UN humanitarian coordination and assistance. Especially because Palestine and its people have been deprived access to humanitarian assistance for years. For Palestinians, this deprivation is not a technical or logistical failure, it is the result of an active military occupation that systematically violates international law, including the 18-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The primary obstacle for aid in Palestine and many other nations is therefore not a lack of coordination; it is often a deliberate attempt to deny access for strategic reasons. All this points out that we need a system to hold countries accountable and make them abide by international laws. Strengthening coordination is only sensible if aid convoys can move, individuals can reach hospitals, and aid workers aren't fearing for their lives when working. The delegation of Palestine therefore proposes the following issue areas to be considered with priority. First, the strengthening of coordination must begin with enforcing accountability. Occupying powers must adhere to the principle of uninterrupted access for humanitarian assistance and grant protection of all humanitarian personnel. Additionally, the use of aid as a political bargaining strategy must be condemned, and actors must be held accountable. This includes ensuring the sustainable funding of important agencies like the UNRWA, which supports millions of Palestinian refugees. Lastly, the UN must be determined to address the root causes, as the most effective way to strengthen humanitarian aid is to end the need for it. The international community must end Palestine's occupation and support the Palestinian’s right to self-determination. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Nuclear security |
| Paper text: | |
| The State of Palestine does not possess nuclear arms, but the threat of their use affects them all the same. As a conventional war between Israel and Palestine drags out into a cycle of ceasefires and violations, the sole nuclear-armed power in the Middle East, Israel, which has not signed onto the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), serves to destabilize regional politics and open conflicts up to arms races and escalation. Thus, Palestine is deeply affected by the problem of nuclear security and seeks to carry on the UN and IAEA’s past efforts towards disarmament, reducing the ability of non-nuclear- armed states to procure arms, and restricting the stationing of these nuclear weapons in the territory of said disarmed nations. Only through a reduction in arms procurement and the ability to produce warheads can international conflict, and the Middle East’s regional conflicts in particular, be resolved and allow all nations to walk together on the road of peace. Palestine recognizes the monumental achievements of the 1970 NPT, as well as the shortcomings of the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and believes an accord can be reached between the nuclear giants of the world, those without nuclear weapons, and all other states caught between. This can be achieved through sensible restrictions on nuclear industries (without hindering the smooth operation of this powerful source of electricity), oversight of plant operations to monitor weaponization efforts, restrictions on the increase of nuclear stockpiles, and any other reforms brought up by other delegates and agreed upon through cordial debate and consensus-building. In fact, an accord between states is necessary, lest this body repeat the mistakes of the 2017 Treaty, and the armed states of the world must be met where they are. | |
| Committee: | IAEA |
| Topic: | Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications |
| Paper text: | |
| The State of Palestine recognizes the International Atomic Energy Agency’s important role in researching and monitoring nuclear industries and their applications. Though Palestine does not have any nuclear infrastructure to speak of, and likely will not be capable of constructing any for the foreseeable future, that does not mean that delegation representing the State of Palestine cannot cooperate with others at the IAEA and create working papers that further our global imperative of technological advancement and innovation. Of course, nuclear innovation must be sustainable, so environmental concerns should be at the front of the body’s minds as oversight is established. At the same time, the agency should explicitly encourage development and innovation in nuclear energy technologies in order to develop heavy industries and infrastructure, which serves to advance economies wherever they may be built. The agency should also oversee the application of nuclear programs in member states to prevent the escalation of the nuclear arms race; infrastructure made from working papers on the first issue on security would work nicely with this. Oversight is especially important to the State of Palestine, as right on their doorstep is the Dimona Nuclear Site in the Negev desert in Israel. Built in the 1950’s, and expanded as recently as September 2025, officials at these sites have successfully masked the production of nuclear weapons despite international oversight. Clearly there have been failures in existing oversight infrastructure, and any resolution overseeing nuclear science and its applications must be intimately related to overseeing potential weaponization of civilian nuclear energy programs. | |
| Committee: | ESCWA |
| Topic: | War on Gaza: tenets and essential elements for sustainable recovery |
| Paper text: | |
| The War on Gaza remains one of the most politically and morally contentious issues in the international arena, and has only garnered more attention over the past two years. The Palestinian territory of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem have been occupied by the Israeli government since 1967, posing extreme challenges from violence, economic decimation, and persistent humanitarian crisis The long-debated issue of a statehood solution has yet to be fully agreed upon, and more international actors, such as the United States, have become involved in the ceasefire and reconstruction process. The state of Palestine has been at the forefront of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia for many years. The involvement of Palestinian delegations is crucial to achieving meaningful and sustainable resolutions through collaboration with other UN member states. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine remains politically sensitive, leaving Palestine at odds with pro-Western nations, where a great extent of their foreign policy favors Israel. Despite this, Palestine has been gaining increased support from UN member states as evidenced by the General Assembly’s December 2024 vote, where over 140 UN delegations supported a resolution condemning the Israeli blockade and calling for international assistance. Strict blockades implemented by the Israeli government have perpetuated the mass starvation of Palestinians; therefore, we strongly urge that humanitarian aid restrictions be lifted immediately in line with international law. The state of Palestine is gravely concerned about the current ceasefire and reconstruction proposal directed by the United States, as there are few provisions to ensure Palestinian-led participation in governance, in addition to uncertainty over sovereignty. Despite the limited formal power at the UN, the state of Palestine stands firmly in engaging in international diplomacy by its advocacy for humanitarian protection and its continuous pursuit of statehood and autonomy. | |
| Committee: | ESCWA |
| Topic: | Economic governance: market competition challenges in the Arab Region |
| Paper text: | |
| The collective Arab region has faced many forms of challenges in past years, ranging from structural challenges in economic development to outright conflict. From the civil war in Syria to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, violence has stunted the economies of the Arab region. The first steps in solving our economic troubles are clearly in ending the numerous conflicts that we suffer from. This involves an adequate peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, an agreement that ensures the stability required to build and maintain economic development. This should also involve the prevalent local violence of Syria, though the civil war may have ended, violence still threatens stability in the country. With the help of this committee and UN groups, such as the Mediation Support Group, we can end our conflicts and ready ourselves to move forward economically. It is clear however, that the Arab region faced economic challenges before our conflicts, prevalent problems being corruption and lack of competition in our markets. Incentivizing local business by lowering the requirements to start a business can increase revenue, economic development and quality of life. In building the foundations of our economies it is clear that cooperation is pivotal for the Arab region. Starting in 2020, ESCWA, in partnership with UNCTAD and OECD, has launched the Annual Arab Competition Forum intending to establish an up-to-date knowledge-sharing platform on economic policies. With this forum we can build the Arab region’s economy together with mutual cooperation. | |
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