Middle East (S/PV.7140)

Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General (USG) for Political Affairs, briefed the Council on the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the fragile nature of

the Israeli/Palestinian negotiations, the volatile situation in the Golan, and the security, political and humanitarian challenges in Lebanon (Mr. Feltman acknowledged

that the Council had recently been briefed by the Secretary-General and the Joint Special Representative Mr. Brahimi on the situation in Syria, and therefore did not

directly address Syria in this briefing).

There is no mention of women, peace and security.

Yet again, the briefing on the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian question offers no attention to women, peace and security. The USG therefore

misses many opportunities to emphasize women’s critical role in conflict resolution, mediation and peacebuilding processes, especially in the context of

Israel/Palestine peace talks. There is also no mention of women’s political involvement more broadly. The USG further neglects to highlight the protection needs

of women in each of these volatile situations, especially those displaced as a result of the Syria crisis.

As there is no mention of women, peace and security, there is little alignment with the most recent MAP on the situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian

question (February 2014). Accordingly, there is no attention given to the role of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts, nor to ending violence

targeting women and girls, including through the demolition of homes, and the denial of adequate access to education and healthcare through restrictions on building

schools, clinics, and roads in “Area C” of the West Bank.

The previous briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, S/PV.7118, similarly offers no attention to women, peace and security

concerns.