Sensitizing nationalist sentiment to the question of Palestine, and promoting a peaceful settlement to the decades-long struggle betwixt Israelis and Palestinians, are among the goals of the 2021 UN International Media Seminar connected Peace successful the Middle East, which began on Tuesday. 

The two-day event is taking spot online and brings unneurotic journalists, media experts, deliberation tanks, diplomats and academics from crossed the portion and beyond. 

In a video connection to the opening ceremony, Secretary-General António Guterres upheld the UN’s enactment for a two-State solution to the conflict. 

“The two‑State solution, arsenic defined by UN resolutions, planetary instrumentality and bilateral agreements remains the lone way to ensuring that Palestinians and Israelis tin some recognize their morganatic aspirations: an extremity to the concern and the realization of 2 independent, sovereign states, surviving side‑by‑side successful bid and security, based connected the 1967 lines, and with Jerusalem arsenic the superior of some States,” helium said. 

The media seminar, which has been held annually since 1991, is hosted by the UN’s Department of Global Communications (DGC) successful the discourse of its peculiar accusation programme connected the question of Palestine.

Revive and resume dialogue 

As the Secretary-General noted, this year’s league besides marks the 30th day of the historical Madrid Peace Conference, which led to dialog betwixt Israelis and Palestinians.  It besides established a important instauration of bid which indispensable beryllium carried forward. 

However, the UN main said the past years person seen much setbacks connected the way to peace, and galore are questioning the viability of a negotiated two-State solution. 

“We cannot suffer hope.  We indispensable research each accidental to revitalize the bid process,” said Mr. Guterres.  “And I impulse Israeli and Palestinian leaders to show the governmental volition indispensable to revive and resume dialogue.” 

The Secretary-General underlined the UN’s ongoing committedness to enactment with the 2 sides, and with planetary and determination partners, to recognize this goal, including done efforts by the Middle East Quartet – consisting of the UN, the European Union, the United States and Russia – which helps mediate the bid negotiations. 

Mr. Guterres besides recognized the captious relation of the media, stating that “free and autarkic journalism is simply a cornerstone of gathering peaceful societies.”   

Working with the media is besides important for the UN Committee connected the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The chair, Ambassador Cheikh Niang of Senegal, said the Committee relies connected close reporting for updates connected the concern successful the region. 

He reported connected its activities and outreach, which see a website and societal media accounts.  High-profile events connected issues specified arsenic donor enactment for UNRWA, the UN bureau that supports Palestinian refugees, were besides broadcast online.

The UN International Media Seminar connected Peace successful Middle East is organized astir 2 sheet discussions.  

The archetypal connected Tuesday explores the taxable of the Madrid league anniversary, and asks if anticipation tin prevail, portion Wednesday’s sheet volition analyse solutions journalism successful the sum of the Israel-Palestine conflict.