Latvia to send officer to Jerusalem for participation in UN peace operation

RIGA - Latvia will send a staff officer to Jerusalem for participation in the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, the Saeima decided Thursday. 

In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a plan for the partition of Palestine, providing for the creation of an Arab State and a Jewish State, with Jerusalem to be placed under international status. The plan was not accepted by the Palestinian Arabs and Arab States. On 14 May 1948, the United Kingdom relinquished its mandate over Palestine and the State of Israel was proclaimed. On the following day, the Palestinian Arabs, assisted by Arab States, opened hostilities against Israel.

In 1948, the Security Council, in resolution 50 (1948), called for a cessation of hostilities in Palestine and decided that the truce should be supervised by the UN Mediator, with the assistance of a group of military observers. 

The first group of military observers, became known as the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), established in 1949 to supervise implementation of the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements. UNTSO Military Observers remain in the Middle East to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other United Nations peacekeeping operations in the region.

Since Latvia is running for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in the 2025 elections, its contribution to UN peacekeeping missions might be a decisive factor for winning the vote.