The Complexities of a 2-State Solution for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The United Nations (UN) is a pivotal international organization established in 1945, following the devastation of World War II, with the primary goal of maintaining global peace and security, fostering international cooperation, and promoting social progress. The UN Charter, signed by 51 founding member states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and the Soviet Union, laid the foundation for this ambitious endeavor[1][3]. ## History and Structure The UN was born out of the failures of its predecessor, the League of Nations, which failed to prevent World War II. Key planning meetings, such as the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in 1944, defined the UN's structure, which includes the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat[1][6]. The Security Council, with five permanent members (the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom), holds significant influence due to its veto power[2]. ## Key Achievements Over the years, the UN has played a crucial role in conflict resolution, human rights advocacy, and sustainable development. Notable achievements include the establishment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the implementation of numerous peacekeeping missions worldwide[3][4]. The UN has also been instrumental in addressing global challenges such as climate change and pandemics through its various programs and agencies. ## Current Status Today, the UN comprises 193 member states, with its most recent addition being South Sudan in 2011[5]. The organization continues to evolve, addressing emerging issues like digital governance and cybersecurity. Despite challenges, the UN remains a cornerstone of international diplomacy and cooperation. ## Notable Aspects The UN's work is not limited to politics; it also impacts business and technology through initiatives that promote sustainable development and digital inclusion. Its role in setting global standards and fostering international cooperation makes it a significant player in shaping the

**Hamas** is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist organization that functions both as a political party and a militant group, primarily operating in the Gaza Strip, which it has governed since 2007. Founded in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin amid the First Intifada, Hamas emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood and initially had covert Israeli support as a counterweight to the secular Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)[3][1]. It combines political governance with an armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, committed to armed resistance against Israel, which it refuses to recognize as a legitimate state[1][3]. Hamas’s political rise culminated in a 2006 electoral victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council, campaigning on anti-corruption and resistance platforms. After violently seizing Gaza from the rival Fatah faction in 2007, Hamas has maintained de facto control there despite international isolation and blockades imposed by Israel and Egypt[3]. Its governance has been marked by repeated conflicts with Israel, including major wars in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the ongoing intense conflict triggered by Hamas’s surprise October 2023 attack killing nearly 1,200 Israelis and taking hostages[1][2][3]. Hamas benefits from regional support, especially from Iran, which supplies funding and weapons, as well as financial and political backing from Turkey and Qatar. These alliances form part of a broader "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes groups like Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad[2]. Hamas also operates fundraising networks globally, sometimes using charities as fronts to support its military activities[4]. The group is designated a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, which has increased military aid to Israel following recent escalations[2][6]. Despite modifying its 1988 charter in 2017 to soften some language, Hamas continues to reject Israel’s legitimacy and pursues all forms of resistance[1]. Its enduring political

## Overview Fatah, formally known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, is a major secular nationalist political and military organization founded in the late 1950s by Yasser Arafat, Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), and other Palestinian activists[1][3][5]. The name “Fatah” is an acronym derived from the Arabic Harakat al-Tahrir al-Filistiniya, and also means “conquest” in Arabic[2][5]. The group’s original objective was to establish an independent Palestinian state through armed struggle against Israel, primarily via guerrilla warfare and, in its early years, attacks on military and civilian targets[2][3][5]. ## History and Evolution Fatah emerged as the first Palestinian-led national liberation movement after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, bringing together activists from the diaspora[6]. It began launching raids against Israel in 1965, initially from Jordan, Lebanon, and Gaza[2]. By 1968, Fatah had become the dominant faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with Arafat serving as PLO chairman from 1969 until his death in 2004[3][4]. The organization’s headquarters shifted from Jordan (1967–1970) to Lebanon (1970–1982), Tunisia (1982–1993), and finally to the Palestinian territories after the Oslo Accords[4]. Fatah’s strategy evolved over time. After the 1980s, it increasingly pursued diplomatic avenues, culminating in the 1993 Oslo Accords, which established mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO and led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA)[3][4]. Arafat became the first president of the PA in 1996, and Fatah dominated Palestinian politics for over a decade[4]. ## Key Achievements - **Unified Palestinian Identity:** Fata