Jarring Mission
Encyclopedia
The Jarring Mission refers to efforts undertaken by Gunnar Jarring
to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors following the Six-Day War
in 1967. He was appointed on 23 November 1967 by United Nations Secretary General, U Thant
, as Special Envoy under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 242 to negotiate the implementation of the resolution.
The governments of Israel
, Egypt
, Jordan
and Lebanon
recognized Jarring's appointment and agreed to participate in his shuttle diplomacy, although they differed on key points of interpretation of the resolution. The government of Syria
rejected Jarring's mission on grounds that total Israeli withdrawal was a prerequisite for further negotiations. After denouncing it in 1967, Syria "conditionally" accepted the resolution in March 1972.
Jarring's report was presented to the public on 4 January 1971. On February 8, he submitted to the Egyptian and Israeli governments his most detailed plan for an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, which was rejected by the Israeli government. The talks continued under Jarring's auspices until 1973, but bore no results. After 1973, the Jarring mission was replaced by bilateral and multilateral peace conferences.
The impasse in Jarring's efforts appears to be related to differing interpretations of the security council resolution. Israel insisted that any efforts should be undertaken with the goal of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states; and that no territory concessions could be contemplated without the prospect of a lasting peace. The Arab states and the Soviet Union maintained that there would be no direct talks with Israel (in keeping with the Khartoum Resolution
), and that withdrawals were a pre-condition for any further talks.
At the time of his appointment, Jarring was the Swedish
ambassador to the Soviet Union
at that time and he maintained his ambassadorship during the mission. Critics since then have pointed out that Jarring had to manage a difficult conflict of interest since he had to maintain his duties as Swedish ambassador to the Soviet Union while trying to facilitate talks in which the Soviet Union had its own interests.
A recent unpublished study of the Jarring mission claims that Jarring's efforts actually paved the way for the future peace talks, and thus were not as insignificant as is common to assume.
Gunnar Jarring
Gunnar Valfrid Jarring was a Swedish diplomat and Turkologist.Jarring was born in Brunnby, Höganäs Municipality, Skåne County , Sweden. He earned a Ph.D. from Lund University in 1933 with his dissertation Studien zu einer osttürkischen Lautlehre...
to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors following the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
in 1967. He was appointed on 23 November 1967 by United Nations Secretary General, U Thant
U Thant
U Thant was a Burmese diplomat and the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, from 1961 to 1971. He was chosen for the post when his predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, died in September 1961....
, as Special Envoy under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 242 to negotiate the implementation of the resolution.
The governments of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
recognized Jarring's appointment and agreed to participate in his shuttle diplomacy, although they differed on key points of interpretation of the resolution. The government of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
rejected Jarring's mission on grounds that total Israeli withdrawal was a prerequisite for further negotiations. After denouncing it in 1967, Syria "conditionally" accepted the resolution in March 1972.
Jarring's report was presented to the public on 4 January 1971. On February 8, he submitted to the Egyptian and Israeli governments his most detailed plan for an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, which was rejected by the Israeli government. The talks continued under Jarring's auspices until 1973, but bore no results. After 1973, the Jarring mission was replaced by bilateral and multilateral peace conferences.
The impasse in Jarring's efforts appears to be related to differing interpretations of the security council resolution. Israel insisted that any efforts should be undertaken with the goal of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states; and that no territory concessions could be contemplated without the prospect of a lasting peace. The Arab states and the Soviet Union maintained that there would be no direct talks with Israel (in keeping with the Khartoum Resolution
Khartoum Resolution
The Khartoum Resolution of September 1, 1967 was issued at the conclusion of an Arab League summit in the wake of the Six-Day War. The resolution, which formed a basis of the policies of these governments toward Israel until the 1973 Yom Kippur War, called for: a continued state of belligerency...
), and that withdrawals were a pre-condition for any further talks.
At the time of his appointment, Jarring was the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
ambassador to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
at that time and he maintained his ambassadorship during the mission. Critics since then have pointed out that Jarring had to manage a difficult conflict of interest since he had to maintain his duties as Swedish ambassador to the Soviet Union while trying to facilitate talks in which the Soviet Union had its own interests.
A recent unpublished study of the Jarring mission claims that Jarring's efforts actually paved the way for the future peace talks, and thus were not as insignificant as is common to assume.