Israeli, Palestinian representatives propose 2-state confederation

[Israeli]

1. Guterres lauds efforts of Israeli-Palestinian confederation plan authors

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke positively of a new grassroots plan to create an Israeli-Palestinian confederation when he met with the authors of the plan in New York on Friday.

"The Secretary-general received [former Israeli Justice Minister] Yossi Beilin and [former Palestinian negotiator] Hiba Husseini who presented him with their report on the “Holy Land Confederation” process," Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said after the meeting.

"He thanked them for their useful contribution to try and achieve a lasting solution to the conflict," Dujarric stated.

Guterres has been a strong advocate of a two-state resolution to the conflict and reaffirmed that stance at the meeting.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms the UN commitment to supporting the parties to achieve a just and peaceful solution to the conflict, including through the Middle East Quartet, and the establishment of two States, based on 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States," Dujarric explained.

This would be "in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements," Dunjarric added.

Friday's meeting marked the end of a series of high level conversation the small group of Israelis and Palestinians held this week in Washington and New York.

They met with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and the nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf as well a number of democratic members of Congress including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Continued @ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/guterres-lauds-efforts-of-israeli-palestinian-confederation-plan-authors/ar-AATM00Y?ocid=uxbndlbing