PKO Flashcards
What is UNTSO?
United nations truce supervision organisation
- Monitor ceasefire between jewish and arab populations
When did UNTSO start?
June 1948 : before arab armies invaded
July 1948: israeli counterattack
merits of UNTSO
able to contain the conflict which threatened to erupt
significant behind cold war background and ME tensions
limitations of UNTSO
1) parties unwilling to cooperate: suspicion of lack of impartiality
- did not grant freedom of movement and hindered UN activities
Resolution of UNTSO (resolution)
UNGA resolution 194: support claims of palestinian rights to territory and property.
equates zionism to racism (form of colonialism against palestine)
UNSC resolution 242, resolution 338:
- acquisition of territory by war is illegal
- israel should withdraw and settle refugee problem
Why is crisis not resolved?
US protectionism of israel. Shields Israel from military and economic action in UNSC
Eg. USA vetoed 34 resolutions pressuring Israel to withdraw
What is Suez crisis?
British, french, israeli invasion of Egypt in opposition of Nasser nationalising Suez canal.
started in oct 1956 with israel invading. Followed by british and french invasion.
UNGA action
- first UNGA emergency meeting (nov 1956) to discuss crisis
Resolution 997: calling for immediate withdrawal with proposal to create Emergency Force (UNEF) - Resolution 998: acceptance of dag’s proposal for UNEF (within 48 hrs)
- Resolution 1000: establishment of UNEF
- Resolution 1001: good faith agreement with Egypt (consent)
success of UNEF
1) ensured withdrawal of British, french (dec 1956) and israelis (march 1957)
2) reduced violence from 1956 to 1967
3) secure superpower support -> led to success
4) able to secure local support
5) swiftness of response : creation of force within 48 hours of resolution 997.
limitations of UNEF
- failed to create long term peace: 6 day war in 1967 after UNEF withdrawal
most important reason for creation
superpower support
- USA wanted face saving way for french and british to withdraw. and secure support of third world
- USSR wanted a distraction from hungarian invasion in 1956
start of congo crisis
- pm lumumba requested aid of sec gen to put down katanga succession which threatened the country.
- > led to creation of United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC)
original mandate (June 1960)
resolution 143
- withdrawal of belgian troops and foreign mercenaries
expansion of mandate (4th and 5th mandate) - Feb 1961
Resolution 161 (feb 1961) - UN take all necessary measures to prevent occurrence of civil war including arrangement of ceasefire, halting of military operations
Resolution 169 (nov 1961)
- UNSC denounced the successionist activities of katanga and denounced use of force against UN force
- authorised sec gen to use requisite force and deport foreign mercenaries
primary issues faced by ONUC
- middle of a civil war with multiple factions with different foreign backers (katanga - Belgium , Mobutu - USA , Lumumba - USSR)
- lack of a stable government to provide support
- CW proxy war
different factions (1+3)
lumumba + kasavubu in LEOPOLDVILLE -> governmet backed by USSR
mobutu overthrew lumumba in sept 1960 -> supported by USA
Lumumbists rival government in STANLEYVILLE
tshombe and katanga secessionists in -> supported by belgium
superpower involvement
dag refused to allow un troops to fight katanga successionists. led to lumumba turning to USSR for support
- USSR supported military aid and advisors
- alarmed the USA: started supporting mobutu who staged a coup in september 1960
Resolution of crisis
expansion of mandate (resolution 169) allowed un to use force :
turning point: Operate Grandslam in end 1962-1963
- 1962 christmas eve attack by foreign mercenaries triggered operation grandslam
- by start of 1963, katanga was decisively defeated
- ONUC began withdrawal in 1964
main failure
failure to upkeep principles of pko
- excessive use of force from resolution 169
- lack of impartiality: strongly anti katanga
- consent: opposed by many parties - failed to gain cooperation
what is UNIFIL?
United nations interim forces in lebanon
mandate (1978-)
resolution 425, 426: (march 1978)
- withdrawal of israeli defence forces (IDF)
- assist lebanese government in ensuring effective control of south
parties involved
Israel defence forces (IDF)
Sout lebanese army (supported by israel)
palestine liberation organisation (PLO)
nooo lebanese governmet authority
invasion of lebanon by israel (3)
1) march 1978
PLO attack led to Israel invading and occupying entire southern half of country
2) june 1982
intense fighting in southern lebanon led to invasion again
3) 1993
Operation Accountability- end threat of hezbollah and PLO
success of UNIFIL
Provision of humanitarian aid
- dampen conflict by protecting and sustaining local populace
- 250000 - 300000 lived in UNIFIL controlled areas
