For the first time, a reference to a Palestinian state was seen in a draft to the UN Security Council regarding the International Security Force that is meant to govern Gaza, a document seen by The Jerusalem Post on Thursday shows.
“After the PA reform program is faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment has advanced, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence," the new clause in the draft seen by the Post read.
Notably, this is the same language as is used in the US-backed Gaza plan. However, this is the first time a Palestinian state was mentioned in the main body of the resolution and not in the annex.
Russia proposes its own UN resolution on Gaza in challenge to US draft
Russia on Thursday proposed its own draft of a UN resolution on Gaza in a challenge to a US effort to pass its own text at the Security Council that would endorse President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, according to a copy of the draft seen by Reuters.
The US formally circulated the draft resolution to the 15 Council members last week and has said it has regional support for its resolution that would authorize a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body and international stabilization force.
Russia's UN mission said in a note to Security Council members on Thursday afternoon, seen by Reuters, that its "counter-proposal is inspired by the US draft."
"The objective of our draft is to enable the Security Council to develop a balanced, acceptable, and unified approach toward achieving a sustainable cessation of hostilities," the note said.