News

The US at the UN: Peacebreaker at a place for peacemakers?

Published

2 weeks ago

08/05/2024

MNN

“Why do American politicians who advocate for the two-state solution hesitate to support the actual establishment of a Palestinian state?”

“A setback to achieving peace in the Middle East.”

“The US is a war-monger.”

The US has faced considerable criticism on social media after exercising its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to sink Palestine’s bid for full United Nations membership. Its veto once again thwarted the long-held aspirations of the Palestinian people. Amid escalating conflict in Gaza, the US, instead of fulfilling its expected role, has obstructed in every possible way the justified demands of the Palestinians to join the UN family and enjoy their inalienable right. The one-sided policy of the US has come under heavy criticism for becoming the most formidable hindrance to the peace process in Gaza.

It has been a decades-long dream of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state. After failing to halt the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory through diplomatic channels, the Palestinian authority shifted its focus to obtaining UN membership in 2011. This strategic move culminated in a formal application to the UN within the same year. However, the US spearheaded opposition to this request, resulting in Palestine being granted only a “non-member observer State” status with no voting privileges.

Since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023, the Palestinian authority has intensified its pursuit of full UN membership to secure broad international support and to pressure Israel into halting its offensive in Gaza. Many nations believe that full membership for Palestine would confer upon it a status equal to that of Israel, thereby facilitating the conditions necessary for Palestinian-Israeli dialogue. Nevertheless, the US veto has once again dashed the hopes of the Palestinian people and the collective efforts of the global community.

Every nation that genuinely endorses a two-state solution should advocate for Palestine’s full UN membership. Why are American politicians, who often vocalize their commitment to this solution, not doing what they are saying?

In pursuit of “regional stability” in the Middle East and to meet domestic political objectives, the US has historically aligned closely with Israel. Their special relationship is evident in the US stance on Israel’s opposition to Palestinian efforts to gain full UN membership. The US hopes to ensure that all resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict come under its own guidance. Obviously, the move by Palestine to join the UN would diminish US influence in the peace process.

The veto seemed so out of place when the world is witnessing the severe humanitarian crisis and rising casualties in the Gaza Strip: as of press time, Israeli military operations in the region had resulted in the loss of over 34,000 Palestinian lives and about 77,000 injured. At this critical moment, the US has not only failed to provide adequate assistance to the vulnerable Palestinians, but also consistently supplied Israel with weapons and equipment and vetoed more than one Security Council resolutions calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The actions by the US underscore its role as an impediment to peace in both international and regional arenas.

At a time when the spillover effects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continue to undermine peace and security in the Middle East, especially when a new vicious circle of retaliation began between Israel and Iran, it is more urgent than ever to grant Palestine full membership in the UN and move further toward a two-state solution, addressing the root cause for regional turmoil. This depends on joint efforts by each and every UN member, who ought to know that no single power has the authority to veto the future of the Palestinian people.

News

President Muizzu sends condolences over death of Iranian President Raisi

Published

3 hours ago

20/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has expressed sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences following the untimely death of Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in a tragic helicopter crash. The crash also claimed the lives of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abdollahian and other senior officials.

In a post of social media, President Muizzu conveyed his deepest sympathies, praying to Almighty Allah to bless the souls of those lost in the incident and grant them Jannatul Firdaus. He extended his thoughts and prayers to the bereaved families and the people of Iran during this time of profound grief.

President Muizzu emphasised the solidarity of the Maldivian government and its people with Iran, underscoring support in this period of mourning. He acknowledged the devastating impact of the accident and reinforced the Maldives’ commitment to standing by Iran in the face of this tragedy.

The expression of condolences comes amidst ongoing efforts in Iran to cope with the loss of their leader and other senior officials, highlighting the shared grief and unity between the two nations during this difficult time.

Source(s): PsmNews

World

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi & Foreign Minister dead in helicopter crash

Published

4 hours ago

20/05/2024

Ebrahim Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, having had a decades-long career in the country’s judicial system under his belt

Iranian state media have confirmed that President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwestern province of East Azerbaijan. His entire entourage, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati have also perished, Press TV said.

The head of state had traveled to the border region after joining Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday to inaugurate a dam. Raisi had pledged to visit each of Iran’s 30 provinces at least once a year, and was thus regularly moving around the country.

Reports of a “crash landing” began circulating earlier on Sunday, with Iranian state media citing Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi. According to media outlet IRNA, the weather was foggy in the area where the presidential helicopter is believed to have gone down.

According to the media, Raisi was traveling in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. Low visibility and the impassibility of the area made search operations difficult, IRNA also wrote. Though rescue teams reportedly launched a search operation within an hour of the incident, adverse weather conditions hampered the process.

According to the media, Raisi was traveling in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter. The rescuers finally managed to locate the crash site on Monday morning with the help of Turkish surveillance drones. The wreckage was discovered in the woodland area of a mountain slope. The aircraft was heavily damaged and charred. There were no signs of survivors, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said.

With Raisi’s passing, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is expected to take office as interim leader.

A representative of the republic’s conservative wing, Raisi, was elected back in 2021. Before assuming Iran’s top job, he had worked his way up from Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutor in Tehran in the 1980s and 1990s all the way to Attorney General and, later, Chief Justice.

Source(s):RT News

News

Technical Chinese team to assist in 5M tree planting programme

Published

1 day ago

19/05/2024

The Ambassador of China to the Maldives Wang Lixin has affirmed that a technical team of China will visit the Maldives to conduct a soil analysis, prior to the commencement of the five million tree planting programme.

Addressing the media, Ambassador Lixin stated that the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy is engaged in collaborative efforts with the Chinese company, Fujian Forestry Administration regarding the programme. The ambassador further disclosed that the technical team will conduct a comprehensive study on the soil and will identify and elucidate the various types of plants which can be cultivated in the Maldives easily.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced the national initiative to plant five million trees across the country at the high-level segment of the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai.

The programme will commence annually on June 5, commemorating World Environment Day. Trees will be planted in all residential islands and resorts under the programme. The administration previously revealed that neighbouring nations will be contributing trees to the initiative.

Source(s): PsmNews