Palestine-Israel conflict a litmus test of international justice

Fairness and justice are fundamental to the shared values of all mankind and represent the common aspirations of people around the world. Be it political discrimination, economic disparity or cultural inequality, each can ignite resentment and discontent, possibly leading to strife or even fighting and war. Therefore, only by upholding fairness and justice can social stability and peace be sustained. The latest conflict between Israel and Palestine, which erupted on October 7, has inflicted significant civilian casualties on both sides, causing a humanitarian catastrophe that rattles the nerves of people around the world.

From the vantage point of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China genuinely hopes for an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the foreign minister, has said, "On the question of Palestine, China will continue to stand on the side of peace, on the side of justice, on the side of international law, on the side of shared aspirations of the majority of countries in the world, and the side of human conscience. China opposes and condemns all acts that harm civilians. The top priority is to achieve a ceasefire and stop the conflict as soon as possible."

In fact, in response to the pressing call of the international community to maintain world peace and prevent conflicts and wars, and with a view to tackling the root causes of international conflicts, addressing international security challenges and realizing peaceful development in the world, China put forward the Global Security Initiative last year, which systematically elaborated on China's position and proposition on promoting common security and maintaining world peace and stability. It underscores the notion that humanity is an indivisible security community. China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security as the conceptual guidance, mutual respect as the fundamental requirement, indivisible security as the important principle, and building a security community as the long-term goal, which is in order to foster a new type of security that replaces confrontation, alliance and a zero-sum approach with dialogue, partnership and win-win results.

This year, China played a pivotal role in mediating the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It's like taking the bull by the horns in terms of stabilizing the tumultuous Gulf region. China's proactive mediation not only resolved intricate disputes but also ushered in prosperity and well-being for the people in the region, therefore garnering extensive commendation from the international community. Such endeavors demonstrate China's unwavering commitment to peace. Furthermore, through practical actions, China has always been seeking solutions to the longstanding "Middle East dilemma." China's stance on peace is echoed and shared by the overwhelming majority of countries worldwide.

For many years, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been caught in a vicious cycle of "conflict – retaliation – ceasefire – renewed conflict," which has resulted in varying degrees of human, material and financial losses for both sides. Since the onset of the latest conflict on October 7, the world has been witnessing the tragic loss of innocent lives, including many women and children, leading to a collective global heartache. In such circumstances, the pertinent question arises: When will this cycle of one revenge begetting another end? In fact, China has not only taken a clear stance on the Palestinian-Israeli issue but has also been proactive in facilitating reconciliation and promoting dialogue to help realize peace between the two sides. Since China appointed a special envoy to the Middle East in 2002, the Palestinian-Israeli issue has always been at the heart of the envoy's mediation efforts in the region.

In 2019, the newly appointed Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue, Zhai Jun, made diplomatic visits to both Israel and Palestine, signifying this issue's paramount importance in China's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. China once drew global attention when it extended invitations to leaders of both Israel and Palestine for visits to China. After the recent outbreak of conflict, Special Envoy Zhai Jun quickly engaged with relevant stakeholders and attended a peace conference in Cairo where he met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit and actively mediated for an immediate ceasefire. Since 2013, China has put forth various proposals, including a four-point proposal to resolve the Palestine-Israel issue, a five-point peace initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East, and a three-point vision for the implementation of the "two-state solution" between Palestine and Israel.

The injustice in the Palestinian-Israeli issue lies in the fact that the Palestinian aspiration for independent statehood has long been unfulfilled, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people has not been redressed. While Israel has been recognized as a state for many years, Palestine, with an equally valid right to statehood, has not been widely recognized by the international community. The Israelis have obtained the safeguards for survival, but who will care about the survival of the Palestinians? The human rights of the Israelis are protected, but what about the human rights of the Palestinians? The Jewish nation is no longer homeless in the world, but when will the Palestinian nation return to its home? Where is the justice? There is no shortage of injustices in the world, but the injustice to Palestine has dragged on for over half a century. The sufferings that plagued generations must not continue.

Fairness and justice are the cornerstone of peace and stability. The ultimate solution to the current crisis is the "two-state solution," which involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Only then can Palestine and Israel coexist peacefully, with their people living in harmony. A security approach that only prioritizes oneself and disregards the security of others cannot last. True lasting security can only be achieved in the form of mutual, collective and cooperative security. This is a truth tested and proven by history. Only when the "two-state solution" is fully implemented can there be real peace in the Middle East and lasting security for Israel. I believe that if the Palestinians are given a chance for peace, they will surely give back to the world a new Middle East that is peaceful and stable.

In order to realize fairness and justice on the Palestinian-Israeli issue and push for the adoption of the "two-state solution," there is a need for immediate resumption of peace talks. All mechanisms aimed at promoting reconciliation must play a proactive role and form positive synergies. The latest round of conflict between Palestine and Israel once again warns us that the question of Palestine remains the core issue in the Middle East. It has the potential to trigger wider regional conflicts or even a world war. The United Nations and all stakeholders must shoulder their responsibilities and place the question of Palestine at the top of their agendas. They should step up consultations and ultimately reach a comprehensive and lasting peace plan based on the "two-state solution." This will help restore peace and stability in the Middle East and also give the world a chance for peace.

(The writer Wang Guangda, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is secretary-general of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development.)