The Middle East Peace Process: A Can Is Kicked Down an Endless Road

Abstract

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged to re-inject momentum in the search for peace in the Middle East. The decade of 2007–2016 saw achievements, but also missed opportunities. The admission of Palestine to the UN as a non-member Observer State in 2012, repeated failed attempts by the United States at reaching a final resolution and the Security Council passivity on the Middle East peace process. Ban Ki-moon was saddened to end his tenure as Secretary-General with no sense of optimism for the future on the question of Palestine. In 2016, the Security Council adopted resolution 2334 (2016) demanding complete cessation of all settlement activities. Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution 2334 (2016) as a significant step, demonstrating the Council’s much-needed leadership.