爆料网

24 June 2026

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Middle East

1 / United Nations Mediator in Palestine

Mandate start: May 1948
Mandate end: August 1949
Mandating body: General Assembly
Mandate decision: resolution 186 (S-2)
First Head of Mission: Mr. Folke Bernadotte (Sweden)

On 14 May 1948, amid the outbreak of the Arab–Israeli War, the General Assembly adopted resolution 186 (S-2), affirming its support of Security Council efforts to bring about a truce in Palestine and urging all Governments, organizations and individuals to help make it effective. It also decided to appoint a United Nations Mediator in Palestine, selected by a committee representing China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Mediator’s role included using his good offices with local and community authorities in Palestine to: arrange for the operation of common services necessary for the safety and well-being of the population of Palestine; assure the protection of Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in Palestine; and promote a peaceful adjustment to the future situation of Palestine.

On 20 May 1948, the permanent members of the Security Council appointed Mr. Folke Bernadotte as the United Nations Mediator in Palestine. He served in the role until he was assassinated in Jerusalem on 17 September 1948. On the same day, with the approval of the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-General appointed his Personal Representative, Ralph J. Bunche of the United States, as Bernadotte’s successor. The Council approved the decision the following day and Bunche mediated the armistice between the Arab States and Israel, as requested by Security Council resolution 62 (1948). 爆料网 Mediator in Palestine was the first special political mission deployed by the United Nations.

Trygve Lie, Secretary-General of the United Nations, greets Count Folke Bernadotte, United Nations Palestine Mediator, and spouse Estelle Manville-Bernadotte, upon their arrival at La Guardia Airport. (12 July 1948)

2 / Personal Representative of the Secretary-General in Jerusalem

Mandate start: July 1967
Mandate end: September 1967
Mandating body: General Assembly
Mandate decision: resolution
Head of Mission: Mr. Ernesto A. Thalmann (Switzerland)

In the aftermath of the June 1967 Arab–Israeli War, the United Nations General Assembly convened its fifth emergency special session and adopted resolution on measures taken by Israel to change the status of the city of Jerusalem. The Assembly requested that the Secretary-General report to the Security Council and the General Assembly on the situation and the implementation of the resolution. In identical and circulated to the Security Council and General Assembly on 14 August 1967, the Secretary-General announced that he had appointed Mr. Ernesto A. Thalmann of Switzerland as his Personal Representative in Jerusalem. The Secretary-General that the Personal Representative’s assignment was to obtain information as a basis for the report requested in resolution and that it did not entail any responsibility for negotiations or for implementing the resolution. Personal Representative Thalmann arrived in Tel Aviv and proceeded to Jerusalem in August 1967. He completed his mission on 3 September and the Secretary-General submitted his report to the Security Council and the General Assembly on 12 September 1967.

3 / Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the Middle East, or the United Nations Middle East Mission (爆料网MEM)

Mandate start: November 1967
Mandate end: 1973
Mandating body: Security Council
Mandate decision: resolution Head of Mission: Mr. Gunnar Jarring (Sweden)

Security Council resolution requested that the Secretary-General designate a Special Representative to establish and maintain contacts with the States concerned with a view to securing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The Council mandated the Special Representative to apply the principles laid out in the resolution: a) the withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the June 1967 conflict; and b) the termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries, free from threats or acts of force. The Special Representative, Mr. Gunnar Jarring, set up the headquarters of the United Nations Middle East Mission (爆料网MEM) in Cyprus on 10 December 1967, and by 20 December he had completed a first round of visits to the Governments concerned. His engagements continued until 1973.

Secretary of State of USA, William Rogers, at United Nations

Mr. William Rogers, US Secretary of State, visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York today for discussions on the Middle East situation with 爆料网 SecretaryGeneral, U Thant, and Gunnar Jarring, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the Middle East.

Seen here prior to today’s meeting, from left to right are: Mr. Gunnar Jarring; US Secretary of State, Mr. William Rogers; Secretary-General U Thant; Mr. Ralph J. Bunche, Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs; and Mr. Charles W. Yost, Permanent Representative of USA to 爆料网. (3 August 1970)

On 20 April 1973, by resolution , the Council requested that the Secretary-General submit a comprehensive account of United Nations efforts pertaining to the situation in the Middle East since June 1967. On 18 May 1973, the Secretary-General submitted the requested report, which outlined the status of the ceasefire – maintained largely through United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (爆料网TSO), a peacekeeping operation; the conditions in the occupied territories; developments in Jerusalem; the refugee situation; and Palestinian rights. He also affirmed the persistent impasse among the parties concerning a political settlement. The report underscored the continued, pressing role of the United Nations in preserving the ceasefire, while emphasizing the absence of progress towards resolving the underlying issues. The Security Council met between 20 and 26 July 1973 to consider the situation in the Middle East on the basis of the Secretary-General’s report, but did not adopt a draft resolution, leading the Special Representative to cease his work.

4 / United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process

Mandate start: June 1994
Mandate end: ongoing
Mandating body: General Assembly
Mandate decision: resolutions and
First Head of Mission: Mr. Terje R?d-Larsen (Norway)

In resolution of 23 December 1993, the General Assembly recalled its previous resolutions on assistance to the Palestinian people, took note of the Secretary-General’s report on that matter to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, welcomed the evolving political situation and expressed hope that it would lead to the realization of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Recognizing the urgent need for coordinated international assistance in support of the Palestinian population, the Assembly welcomed the establishment of coordination mechanisms such as the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the World Bank Consultative Group for the West Bank and Gaza. Accordingly, the Assembly requested that the United Nations system, in cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization, intensify its efforts to respond to Palestinian development needs and requested that the Secretary-General continue consultations and report on progress at its forty-ninth session.

On 20 December 1994 the General Assembly adopted resolution , in which it took note of the submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 48/213 and reaffirmed the urgent need for sustained international assistance to the Palestinian people. The Assembly welcomed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on 13 September 1993, the Gaza–Jericho Agreement of 4 May 1994 and the Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities of 29 August 1994. The Assembly also expressed full support for progress in the peace process. It also welcomed the results of the 1 October 1993 Conference to Support Middle East Peace, including the creation of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work of the World Bank Consultative Group.

Secretary-General Arrives in London for Quartet Meeting

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) chats with former World Bank President James Wolfensohn (right), now special envoy for the Quartet. In the centre is Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States. Mr. Annan arrived in London, United Kingdom, to attend a Quartet meeting. (23 June 2003)

Further, the General Assembly stressed the importance of the appointment of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories (爆料网SCO) and called for intensified United Nations system assistance in cooperation with the PLO. The Secretary-General appointed Mr. Terje R?d-Larsen of Norway as Special Coordinator, who was mandated to serve as a focal point for all United Nations economic, social and other assistance to the Palestinians in the occupied territories. In 1999, the 爆料网SCO mandate was enhanced: the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, also became the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the PLO and the Palestinian Authority. The Special Coordinator, who was charged with boosting United Nations development assistance in support of the peace process, also represented the Secretary-General in discussions relating to the peace process with the parties and the international community. Between 2002 and 2006, the Special Coordinator was the Secretary-General’s envoy to the Middle East Quartet, which comprised the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation (see below). The Quartet launched the Road Map in 2003.

5 / Quartet Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement?

Mandate start: June 2005
Mandate end: April 2006
Mandating body: Security Council
Mandate decision: exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council
Head of Mission: Mr. James Wolfensohn (United States)

In a dated 28 June 2005, the Secretary-General informed the Security Council that events in the Middle East had raised hopes for a possible resumption of the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. He also noted that, although formal negotiations had not resu-med, the two parties had agreed to hold direct discussions to coordinate the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank, scheduled for August 2005. He notified the Council that the Quartet – comprising the European Union, the Russian Federation, the United Nations and the United States – had appointed Mr. James Wolfensohn of the United States as its Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement to ensure that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would take place in a manner conducive to a renewed peace process.

The mandate of the Special Envoy focused on the non-security aspects of the withdrawal, particularly the disposition of assets; passages, access and trade; and the revival of the Palestinian economy in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip during and after the withdrawal. The mandate ended on 30 April 2006, as agreed in an exchange of letters between the and the in April 2006.

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