Prof. Bruno PierriProf. Bruno Pierri Istituzioni politiche anglo- Istituzioni politiche anglo-

americane e analisi dei linguaggi americane e analisi dei linguaggi specificispecifici

United Nations Structure and United Nations Structure and Language: Language:

Security Council Resolution 242 of Security Council Resolution 242 of 19671967

April 23rd, 2009April 23rd, 2009

United Nations: A Short HistoryUnited Nations: A Short History Failure of League of NationsFailure of League of Nations World War IIWorld War II San Francisco ConferenceSan Francisco Conference Stalin, Roosevelt (Truman), Churchill Stalin, Roosevelt (Truman), Churchill

(Attlee)(Attlee) International Organisation with aim to International Organisation with aim to

facilitate cooperation in international law, facilitate cooperation in international law, security, economic development, social security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and world peaceprogress, human rights, and world peace

Initially 51 member StatesInitially 51 member States Currently 192 member StatesCurrently 192 member States Headquarters in New York CityHeadquarters in New York City

United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General Assembly Main deliberative body, composed of all

members Assembly meets in regular sessions under

president elected from among member States

When General Assembly votes on important questions, two-thirds majority is required

Each member has one vote GA Resolutions usually non-bindingGA Resolutions usually non-binding Recommendations on any matter, except Recommendations on any matter, except

peace and securitypeace and security

United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council Security Council charged with maintaining Security Council charged with maintaining

peace and security peace and security Binding decisions that member Binding decisions that member

governments have agreed to carry outgovernments have agreed to carry out Security Council is made up of 15 member Security Council is made up of 15 member

States, consisting of 5 permanent and 10 States, consisting of 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent membersnon-permanent members

Permanent members hold veto power over Permanent members hold veto power over substantive but not procedural substantive but not procedural resolutions: power to block adoption but resolutions: power to block adoption but not to block debate of a resolution not to block debate of a resolution

SC Resolutions adopted if there is three-SC Resolutions adopted if there is three-fifths majority (9 out of 15), if not vetoed fifths majority (9 out of 15), if not vetoed by any permanent member by any permanent member

UN Secretariat and Secretary-GeneralUN Secretariat and Secretary-General Secretariat headed by Secretary-General, who is Secretariat headed by Secretary-General, who is

assisted by international civil servants. It assisted by international civil servants. It provides studies, information, and facilities provides studies, information, and facilities needed by United Nationsneeded by United Nations

Secretary-General's duties include helping Secretary-General's duties include helping resolve international disputes, administering resolve international disputes, administering peacekeeping operations, organizing peacekeeping operations, organizing international conferences, gathering information international conferences, gathering information on implementation of Security Council decisionson implementation of Security Council decisions

De factoDe facto spokesman and leader of the UN spokesman and leader of the UN Secretary-General can bring to the SC’s attention Secretary-General can bring to the SC’s attention

"any matter which in his opinion may threaten "any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and the maintenance of international peace and security“security“

Six-Day War, 1967Six-Day War, 1967 Decade from 1956 to 1967 was Decade from 1956 to 1967 was

“peaceful time” in Arab-Israeli “peaceful time” in Arab-Israeli relationsrelations

Settlement of Suez, 1956-1957:Settlement of Suez, 1956-1957: UN forces in Sharm-el-Sheik, Gaza UN forces in Sharm-el-Sheik, Gaza

& border& border Prevented terrorist raidsPrevented terrorist raids Secured Israeli access to Red SeaSecured Israeli access to Red Sea

Six-Day War, 1967Six-Day War, 1967 Water dispute:Water dispute:A) In 1964 Israel began withdrawing water from A) In 1964 Israel began withdrawing water from

Jordan River Jordan River B) In 1965 Arab states began construction of B) In 1965 Arab states began construction of

Headwater Diversion PlanHeadwater Diversion Plan to divert waters to divert waters (banias, Hasbani, Yarmuk) before they (banias, Hasbani, Yarmuk) before they entered Israel, to flow instead into a dam for entered Israel, to flow instead into a dam for use by Jordan and Syriause by Jordan and Syria

C) Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attacked C) Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attacked diversion works in Syria diversion works in Syria

D) Prolonged chain of border violenceD) Prolonged chain of border violenceE) In 1966 Ba’athist party comes to power in E) In 1966 Ba’athist party comes to power in

Syria: Syria: Close ties with USSRClose ties with USSR Terrorist operations and raids into IsraelTerrorist operations and raids into Israel

Six-Day War, 1967Six-Day War, 1967 In May 1967 USSR warns Egypt of Israeli attack In May 1967 USSR warns Egypt of Israeli attack

on Syriaon Syria Soviets were clearly wrong Soviets were clearly wrong UN inspections found no Israeli preparationsUN inspections found no Israeli preparations Egypt expelled United Nations staff from Egypt expelled United Nations staff from

SinaiSinai Egypt amassed 1,000 tanks and nearly 100,000 Egypt amassed 1,000 tanks and nearly 100,000

soldiers on the border with Israel and blocked soldiers on the border with Israel and blocked Straits of Tiran Straits of Tiran

Nasser threatened to wipe out IsraelNasser threatened to wipe out Israel Syria began shelling Israeli civilians from Golan Syria began shelling Israeli civilians from Golan

HeightsHeights

Six-Day War, 1967Six-Day War, 1967 On June 5, 1967, Israel launched pre-On June 5, 1967, Israel launched pre-

emptive attackemptive attack Jordan then attacked West JerusalemJordan then attacked West Jerusalem On June 10 Israel had gained control On June 10 Israel had gained control

of Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West of Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights Bank, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights

Diplomacy: UNSC Res 242, Nov 22, Diplomacy: UNSC Res 242, Nov 22, 19671967

UNSC Resolution 242, 1967UNSC Resolution 242, 1967GlossaryGlossary

Concern= preoccupazioneConcern= preoccupazione Just and lasting peace = pace giusta e Just and lasting peace = pace giusta e

duraturaduratura To undertake = impegnarsi, assumere un To undertake = impegnarsi, assumere un

impegnoimpegno fulfillmentfulfillment = realizzazione = realizzazione Claim = rivendicazioneClaim = rivendicazione states of belligerency = stati di states of belligerency = stati di

belligeranzabelligeranza acknowledgementacknowledgement = riconoscimento = riconoscimento settlement = soluzionesettlement = soluzione refugee = profugorefugee = profugo provisionsprovisions = indicazioni = indicazioni

Main Points of ResolutionMain Points of Resolution ““inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war” – sentence inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war” – sentence

condemning Israel, but also Arabs who want to destroy Israelcondemning Israel, but also Arabs who want to destroy Israel ““just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in

security” – every State means also Israel. Condemnation of Israeli security” – every State means also Israel. Condemnation of Israeli occupation, but also recognition of Israeli right to live in peace occupation, but also recognition of Israeli right to live in peace within secure and recognized borders within secure and recognized borders

““Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict”recent conflict” - S - Semantic argument is about whether Israel's emantic argument is about whether Israel's obligations include withdrawal from all the territories occupied or obligations include withdrawal from all the territories occupied or whether these obligations could be satisfied by withdrawal from whether these obligations could be satisfied by withdrawal from part of the territoriespart of the territories

French version vs. English version French version vs. English version A) French version:A) French version:

Retrait des forces armées israéliennes des territoires occupés lors Retrait des forces armées israéliennes des territoires occupés lors du récent conflit.du récent conflit.

B) Original English version: absence of definite article "the"B) Original English version: absence of definite article "the"C) Drafters support Israeli version: “if we had put in “the” or “all C) Drafters support Israeli version: “if we had put in “the” or “all

the”, that could only have meant that we wished to see the 1967 the”, that could only have meant that we wished to see the 1967 boundaries perpetuated in the form of a permanent frontier. This I boundaries perpetuated in the form of a permanent frontier. This I was certainly not prepared to recommend” was certainly not prepared to recommend”

D) Arabs and their supporters say Israel must withdraw from all D) Arabs and their supporters say Israel must withdraw from all territoriesterritories

E) Language unclear because in any case either US or USSR would E) Language unclear because in any case either US or USSR would have vetoed Resolutionhave vetoed Resolution

F) France's ambassador to the UN stated that correct interpretation is F) France's ambassador to the UN stated that correct interpretation is that "the" is that "the" is notnot added to the text. French position is that Israel added to the text. French position is that Israel does not need to withdraw from all occupied territoriesdoes not need to withdraw from all occupied territories

Main points of ResolutionMain points of Resolution ““Termination of all claims or states of belligerency Termination of all claims or states of belligerency

and respect for and acknowledgement of the and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force” – boundaries free from threats or acts of force” – however we interpret first sentence, Resolutions however we interpret first sentence, Resolutions says that no real peace possible unless every says that no real peace possible unless every State in the area (including Israel) is able to live in State in the area (including Israel) is able to live in peace within recognized borders. Hence, borders peace within recognized borders. Hence, borders must be object of negotiation and Arabs cannot must be object of negotiation and Arabs cannot threaten destruction of Israelthreaten destruction of Israel

““freedom of navigation through international freedom of navigation through international waterways in the area” – Suez Canal, which Arabs waterways in the area” – Suez Canal, which Arabs had always denied for Israelhad always denied for Israel

““just settlement of the refugee problem” – just settlement of the refugee problem” – recognition of rights of Palestinians, who are not recognition of rights of Palestinians, who are not nominated, because no one, not even Arab States, nominated, because no one, not even Arab States, wanted another Arab independent State wanted another Arab independent State

UNSC Resolution 242, 1967UNSC Resolution 242, 1967 Supporters of the "Israeli viewpoint" Supporters of the "Israeli viewpoint"

focus on the phrase calling for focus on the phrase calling for "secure and recognized boundaries" "secure and recognized boundaries" and note that resolution calls for and note that resolution calls for withdrawal "from territories"withdrawal "from territories"

Supporters of “Arab viewpoint" Supporters of “Arab viewpoint" focus on phrase emphasizing focus on phrase emphasizing "inadmissibility of the acquisition of "inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war", and note that territory by war", and note that certain, though unofficial, certain, though unofficial, translations say "from the translations say "from the territories" territories"