UN Envoy Warns of ‘Dangerous Collapse’ Amid Absence of 2-State Solution

A Palestinian protester against the settlements in Beit Dajan in the West Bank raises the Palestinian flag in front of Israeli soldiers last November (EPA)
A Palestinian protester against the settlements in Beit Dajan in the West Bank raises the Palestinian flag in front of Israeli soldiers last November (EPA)
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UN Envoy Warns of ‘Dangerous Collapse’ Amid Absence of 2-State Solution

A Palestinian protester against the settlements in Beit Dajan in the West Bank raises the Palestinian flag in front of Israeli soldiers last November (EPA)
A Palestinian protester against the settlements in Beit Dajan in the West Bank raises the Palestinian flag in front of Israeli soldiers last November (EPA)

The UN’s Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, warned that amid the absence of “a realistic prospect of an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-state solution”, it is only a matter of time before reaching “dangerous collapse and widespread instability.”

The Security Council held a session on the ministerial level on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian.

Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, participated in the session knowing that the country assumed the presidency of the Security Council for January.

“The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) fiscal situation continues to be dire, threatening its institutional stability and its ability to provide services to its people,” Wennesland said in his briefing.

“Violence continues unabated across the OPT, including settler violence, leading to numerous Palestinian and Israeli casualties, and increasing the risk of a broader escalation.”

“Settlement activity, demolitions, and evictions also continue, feeding hopelessness and further diminishing prospects for a negotiated solution,” he told the Council.

“Piecemeal approaches and half measures will only ensure that the underlying issues perpetuating the conflict continue to fester and worsen over time.”

“Political and economic reforms must be implemented to ensure the PA’s continued ability to function effectively while boosting donor confidence and support,” said Wennesland.

The UN envoy stressed that “efforts by the parties and the international community to stabilize and improve conditions on the ground should be linked to a political framework.”

“Without a realistic prospect of an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-state solution based on UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements, it is only a matter of time before we face an irreversible, dangerous collapse and widespread instability,” he warned.

In his statement, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Maliki insisted that “resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), offer the only path to peace.”

He further stressed that as much as it is important to enact the law and to condemn those violating it, it is equally essential to pursue enforcement and ensure accountability. “You want to help us end this conflict, end Israeli impunity.”

“Indeed, bias favoring Israel has prevented the Council from acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. It has allowed Israel to accuse even its closest partners of anti-Semitism for passing resolutions rooted in international law,” he said.

Nada Majdalani, Palestinian Director of EcoPeace Middle East, said children in Gaza “are growing up in a reality that no child in the world should experience,” citing water shortages, and cold nights without electricity or fuel.

For his part, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan slammed the bias of the Security Council, which says nothing “about attacks committed daily by Palestinians with rocks.”



Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)

Sudan's army-aligned administration lashed out Monday at what it called Kenya's "irresponsible and hostile" support for efforts by Khartoum's paramilitary rivals to form a parallel government.

Since April 2023, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, once allies, have been locked in a power struggle that has dragged the country into war.

Late Saturday, the RSF and a coalition of political and armed groups signed in Nairobi a charter that would pave the way for a "peace and unity" government in rebel-held areas, with Kenya's foreign minister later saying the proposed administration would restore "democratic governance" in Sudan.

Sudan's foreign ministry condemned the "dangerous precedent" on Monday, saying that "in a grave threat to regional security and peace, the Kenyan leadership has adopted the parallel government that the genocidal militia and its followers intend to declare in some of the remaining pockets under their control".

The government, it added, would take "the necessary steps to respond to this irresponsible and hostile behavior".

Those steps appeared to be taking shape Monday, with foreign ministry undersecretary Hussein Al-Amin Al-Fadil telling a press conference in Port Sudan that "measures against Kenya are escalating, and there are arrangements for economic measures, including a ban on importing Kenyan products".

He also said Sudan was in the process of withdrawing its ambassador from Nairobi and would file a complaint against Kenya through regional and international channels.

Among the signatories of the charter was a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls parts of the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The United Nations warned that the signing of the charter would "increase the fragmentation" of the war-torn country.

But in a post on X on Sunday, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the charter "a peace agreement", describing the proposed administration as a "a unity government" that would restore "peace, stability, and democratic governance in Sudan".

In its statement, Khartoum accused Nairobi of creating a "false facade for the militia to directly obtain weapons", while "relieving regional sponsors of some embarrassment".

The foreign ministry said that this "would expand the scope of war and prolong its duration" and warned of potential damage to bilateral ties with Kenya.

Fadil said Monday that Kenyan President William Ruto "has known personal interests with the militia leader and its sponsors, and is betting on losing cards".

Saturday's signing of the charter comes as the army and its allied factions are making advances against the RSF in the capital Khartoum and in central Sudan.

The war in Sudan, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, erupted after a rift emerged between Burhan and Daglo over the future structure of the government.

The war has triggered the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.

Both warring sides face accusations of committing grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders sanctioned by the US.