Chair Report

Arab League
Committee: Arab League
Issue: The question of the rights and responsibilities of Arab nations with regards to accepting
and relocating refugee populations.
Name: Kris and Sophie
Position: Arab League Chair

Introduction:
The world, including Arab nations and their neighbors, is currently experiencing one of
the worst refugee crises in history caused by multiple civil wars, political instability, and
multinational conflicts. Even with the help of many nations and organizations such the
UN, other states still turn a blind eye to the crisis in the hope that it will be resolved
without their having to take part in it. The problem is that the crisis is continuing to grow.
It is clear that Arab nations are absolutely essential in the handling of the crisis because
of their general geographical and political proximity to conflict regions; in this time of dire
need for global cooperation to solve this humanitarian crisis, it is crucial to properly
define the rights and responsibilities of these nations with regards to accepting and
relocating refugee populations.

Key Terms / Concepts:

Term Definition

Refugee (UN definition) A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave his
or her country due to prosecution, war, or violence.

Civil War A war between citizens of the same country.

Sanctions A threatened penalty for disobeying a rule or a law.

Embargo An official ban or a trade or the commercial activity with a

particular country.
Migrant A worker who moves from place to place to do seasonal
work.

Coalition An alliance for combined action, especially a temporary

alliance of political parties forming a government or of
states.

Weapons of Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) constitute a class

Mass-Destruction of weaponry with the potential to, in a single moment, kill
millions of civilians, jeopardize the natural environment,
and fundamentally alter the world and the lives of future
generations through their catastrophic effects.
[http://unrcpd.org/wmd/]

Background Information

1948 The Arab-Israeli war was fought between the state of Israel and a
military coalition between many Arab states. This war created a huge
wave of refugees that had never been experienced or dealt with
before.

1967 Six-day War

Egypt, Syria, Jordan vs. Israel
Israel takes West Bank and East Jerusalem
The six-day war created a second wave of Palestinian refugees.

1975 The Lebanese civil war lasted from 1975 to 1990. The Palestinian
refugees that crossed over to Lebanon during the 1948 war would go
on to play an important part in the Lebanese civil war.The war led to
 nearly a fourth of its population departing the country.

1990 The sanctions imposed on Iraq were a near-total financial and trade
embargo created by the United Nations. It stayed in power until
mid-2013. The sanctions original purpose was to force Iraq to remove
forces from Kuwait, pay reparations, and destroy any owned weapons
of mass-destruction.

2003 The invasion of Iraq, following the sanctions heavily scarring the
economy and culture, signalled the start of the Iraq war. It opened the
floodgates to 6 million more refugees who left seeking a better life.

2004 The Libyan and Italian governments reach a secret agreement that
allows African immigrants deported from Italian territories to be
accepted into Libya. The action is criticized by the European
Parliament.

2011 The Syrian civil war starts with two forces fighting against each other
to control the governing of the country - mainly President Bashar
al-Assad and his allies, and various other forces opposing the
government. One of the most iconic civil wars of all time - the Syrian
civil war is notorious for its death toll reaching upwards of 475,000
deaths. Its known as one of the largest sources of refugees in the
world.

2011 Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, 2.5 million refugees has
entered Jordan alone.

2013 1 in 3 of Syrian civilians sought safety in Lebanon, displaced by the

civil war. Others fled to Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq. Turkey has
 accepted 1.7 million refugees.

2015 The Yemen civil war begins, sparked by two different factions both
claiming to constitute the Yemeni government. By late March the
fighting grows more intense, and living conditions rapidly deteriorate.
It is estimated that 21.1 million people (roughly 80% of the population)
require some sort of humanitarian support or assistance.

2015 10.9 million Syrians, or roughly half the population, has been
estimated to have been displaced.

Solutions:

Past:
The most significant step that countries of the Arab League have done to help alleviate
the Syrian refugee crisis is the Regional
Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP). It is
the coordinated, region-wide response of
over 240 partners, including UN agencies,
NGO's, and other international and national
actors, to provide assistance to over 5.2
Syrian refugees.
The Arab Nations of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq,
and Egypt have taken in refugees, providing them with temporary camps to live in.
Other countries include Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia.
Although it has only attained 50% of its funding, 3RP has made significant change to
the crisis - as of July this year, 2.5 million individuals received food assistance, 1.5
million healthcare, 1.1 million water safety, 1.8 million cash assistance, and more.

Future:
Solutions for this issue would be on a case by case basis depending on the country.
The nations of the Arab League are not homogenous, and would not all be able handle
the same amount of aid to the refugees. The 3RP plan is a great starting point to base
future solutions off of, as it assists refugees in many aspects of their lives. More
countries could also look into letting refugees into their borders, and those who can't for
political or economic reasons should instead contribute funds and resources to the
countries that can accept refugees, if possible. Another possible solution is the
establishment of safe havens in the refugees' country of origin, with military
reinforcement from other countries. In order to solve this issue, the engagement of all
members of the Arab League is necessary - it's up to you to determine to what extent
countries should be involved, and what this involvement looks like.

Resources for further reading / Bibliography

1. Application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations (A/66/371
S/2011/592)
2. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/17/world/un-repeals-its-75-resolution-equating-zionism-
with-racism.html
3. Security Council on Israeli settlements on areas occupied since 1967 (S/RES/465)
4. Security Council condemns Israels annexation of East Jerusalem (S/RES/2334)
5. The Hamas Covenant (1988)
6. Aljazeera News Updates
Bibliography
1. https://www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine/intro
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allon_Plan
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Jordan_peace_treaty
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_Peace_Treaty
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_peace_process
6. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11103745
7. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29362505
8. http://ifamericaknew.org/history/
9. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14630174
Committee: Arab League
Issue: The question of Arab cooperation in issues pertaining to the State of Palestine.
Name: Kris
Position: Arab League Chair

Introduction:
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most serious and long-lasting conflicts of the
21st century. It is fair to say that it has shaped a significant part of world history and
international relations, based around the conflict between Israel and its allies versus the
rest of the Arab world. In the current state of turbulent global politics with shifts in power
and new developments in the Middle East, this issue and its consequences are again
being highlighted as a major potential for further conflict.

Key Terms / Concepts:

Term Definition

State of Palestine A sovereign state claiming the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, with its capital in East Jerusalem (administrative
capital Ramallah). Recognized as a nonmember state
status by the UN (granted 2012).

Palestine Region of the eastern of of the Mediterranean Sea,

including parts of modern Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Two-state solution Establishing Palestine as an independent state in Gaza

and most of the West Bank, and the rest is left to Israel

Zionism The movement for establishing, developing and

protecting a Jewish nation (i.e. Israel).
 1975: UN GA resolution labelling it a form of
racism and racial discrimination, although
repealed in 1991

West Bank An area of land east of Israel, home to 2.6mil

Palestinians that Israel seized in the 1967 war
Most of international community regards it as
illegally occupied Palestinian land
Home to many holy sites

Jerusalem The capital of both Israel and Palestine; home to some of

the holiest sites for both religions (such as the Western
Wall and the al-Aqsa Mosque)

Settlements Jewish communities that have moved to the West Bank

since the Israeli occupation in 1967.
Considered by most international lawyers to
violate Fourth Geneva Convention (prohibition of
population transfer into occupied territories)

Palestine Liberation National representation of Palestinians; runs the

Organization (PLO) Palestinian National Authority, which manages
Palestinian lands until a deal with Israel.
Background Information

1896 - 1948 Massive Jewish immigration to British-controlled Palestine

(ancestral homeland) as response to rising nationalism and
anti-Semitism in Europe

1947 UN Partition UN votes to split British Palestine into two countries (see map)
Plan

Jews: blue (56%); Arabs: orange (44%)

1948 War Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria declare war on Israel
Israel ends up with 77% of British Palestine
Nakba: 700,000 Palestinians uprooted from homes and
turned into refugees

1967 Six-Day War War

 Egypt, Syria, Jordan vs. Israel
Israel takes West Bank and East Jerusalem

1978 The Egyptian president, Anwar Sadat, visits Jerusalem in

November 1977. US President Jimmy Carter invites Sadat and
the Israeli Prime minister, Menachem Begin, for a discussion
at Camp David near Washington. The talk lasted for two days,
and it resulted in two major agreements; the first, a mutual
agreement that there should be a treaty made between
between Egypt and Israel to fix the Palestinian problem. The
second, the Camp David framework for the Egypt and Israel
treaty. Israel is recognized for the first time as a state by a
major Arab country.

1987 Formation of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist political

organization and militant resistance group against Israel
Governs Gaza independent of the PA
1991 The Madrid Conference. Co-sponsored by the U.S. and Soviet
Union, as a follow-up to the Egypt-Israel treaty its purpose was
to encourage other Arab countries to sign their own
agreements to Israel. It eventually led to the peace treaty
between Israel and Jordan in 1994.

1993 PLO accepts Israels right to exist in exchange for its

recognizing the PLO as the legitimate representative of
Palestinians

2000 In 2000, the current US president Bill Clinton set out to resolve
issues that were left aside as minor or unreachable by the
Oslo agreement, such as refugees, borders and Jerusalem.
The talk took place with the Israeli prime minister and the PLO
chairman. However, both parties refused to come to a final
conclusion and the talk was deemed a failure.

2003 The Road Map was a plan drawn by the Quartet - The
United States, the UN, Russia, and the European Union.
Rather than take a direct approach to solve the problem like
other talks had attempted, the plan did not lay down the final
details of a final settlement, but instead included precise
details on how such a feat might be achieved. The plan
preceded important statements made by US President George
W. Bush, the official first US President to call for a Palestinian
state.

2003 The Geneva Accord was an agreement announced in

December of 2003 by Yossi Beilin, one of the architects of
 Oslo, and former Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed
Rabbo. The plan took a very different approach to the conflict
compared to the Road Map. The road map was designed that
a growth in security and confidence would be followed by the
agreement, while the Geneva Accord put the agreement first,
which was then expected to precede with increased feelings of
security and confidence.

2014 Israel-Gaza Military operation launched by Israel in the Hamas-ruled Gaza

conflict Strip. It started off with three Israeli teenagers being murdered
by Hamas members and the IDF responding with Operation
Brothers Keeper. It was a seven-week conflict that resulted in
the death of thousands of Gazans. On 26 August, a ceasefire
was announced.

Current state Inability to agree on state of around 7mil refugees

Palestine wants to grant refugees the right to
return to their homes and families, whereas
Israel refuses (as this would cause the Jews a
minority against the Arab majority within Israel)
Jewish settlements in the West Bank (500,000)

Solutions:

UN Partition Plan In 1947, the United Nations intervened

with an attempt at an erroneous medieval
 principle of an outside power dividing up
the land. Under Zionist pressure the UN
proposed a slightly improper division of
the land.

Armistice Agreements Following the Arab-Israeli war, Egypt,

Lebanon, Jordan and Syria signed a set
of armistice agreements to formally end
all hostility of the previous war. The UN
established supervision and and reporting
to monitor the created armistice lines.

Allon Plan Drafted by Israeli Minister Yigal Allon, it

was a plan to divide the West Bank
between Israel and Jordan, create a new
Druze state in the then Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights and finally return mos of
the Sinai Peninsula back to Arab control.

Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty The treaty was signed in Washington

D.C. on March 26th, 1979. The key
features of this treaty included the entire
removal of armed forces and civilians of
Israel from the Sinai Peninsula, which
they captured during the 6-day war. It
also included a promise to conclude the
ongoing state of war since 1948, and free
passage of Israeli ships through the Suez
 Canal.

Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty Signed on October 26th, 1994, this treaty

attempted to create mutual peace
between the two countries. The treaty
pledged that neither countries would allow
for their land to become a staging ground
for military strikes by a third country. It
settled land and water disputes, and
furthermore, provided cooperation in
trade and tourism.

Resources for further reading

1. Application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations
(A/66/371 S/2011/592)
2. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/17/world/un-repeals-its-75-resolution-equating-z
ionism-with-racism.html
3. Security Council on Israeli settlements on areas occupied since 1967
(S/RES/465)
4. Security Council condemns Israels annexation of East Jerusalem (S/RES/2334)
5. The Hamas Covenant (1988)
6. Aljazeera News Updates

Bibliography
1. https://www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine/intro
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allon_Plan
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Jordan_peace_treaty
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_Peace_Treaty
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_peace_process
6. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11103745
7. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29362505
8. http://ifamericaknew.org/history/
9. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14630174
Committee: Arab League
Issue: The question of Arab cooperation in ensuring a resolution to the conflict in Yemen
Name: Sophie Anderson
Position: Co-Chair

Introduction:
On March 19th, 2015 the Yemeni Civil War began, and has led to an ongoing conflict
ever since. The main dispute is between two factions, Houthi forces allied with those
loyal to former President Saleh, and current President Hadi's loyalists. Both sides claim
to constitute the Yemeni government, and along with their supporters will do anything to
gain control of the country. Not only that, but terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda in
the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), are
taking advantage of the situation, and are inflicting violence across the country. There
has also been international involvement, with Saudi Arabia and its coalition
exacerbating the issue through a brutal intervention.

All of this has led to the situation in Yemen to grow to be the one of largest humanitarian
crises in the world. With over 10,000 Yemeni killed and and over 3 million displaced
since February 2014, innocent civilians are suffering from unimaginable consequences
as a result of the war. Infrastructure is destroyed, food and fuel imports are restricted,
cholera is rampant, and access to clean water is basically nonexistent.

The issue of the Yemeni Civil War is multifaceted, as it deals with a broad range of
problems such as intense political conflict, presence of terrorist groups, an ongoing
humanitarian crisis, and more. Yemen's official motto is "
", which
translates to "God, Country, Revolution, Unity". Since the start of the civil war in 2015,
their mantra no longer fully applies. Hopefully, after extreme reform and intervention,
Yemen may rise from its current state of chaos and into a country worthy of their motto.

Definition of Key Terms:

Term Definition

Shia Islam Shia Islam is a branch of Islam which holds that

the Islamic prophet Muhammad's proper
successor as Caliph was his son-in-law Ali ibn
Abi Talib. Shia Islam clashes with Sunni Islam,
the issue has now transforming into a political
conflict, rather than a religious one. Shias
constitute 10-13% of the worlds Muslim
population and make up the majority of the
radical, violent element of Islam. Shia Islam is the
second largest denomination of Islam, with the
majority of the population found in Iran (89%), as
well as in Iraq, Pakistan and India. Yemen is 49%
Shia.

Sunni Islam Sunni Islam, sometimes referred to as the

orthodox Islam, is a branch of Islam which holds
that the Islamic prophet Muhammad's proper
successor as Caliph was his father-in-law Abu
Bakr. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of
Islam and constitutes 87-90% of the Muslim
population. Yemen is 53% Sunni.
Zaidiyyah (Zaidism) A Shia sect, Zaidism is what the Houthi Yemeni
group base their ideology off of. Zaydi make up
about 35-42% of Shia Muslims in Yemen.

Abdullah Saleh Ali Abdullah Saleh was the first President of

Yemen, and served from May 1990 to February
2012. Under his regime, the country became
more and more unstable until his ousting in
2012s Arab Spring. Today, he still has a large
following of Yemeni and is allied with the Houthi
rebels.

Mansour Hadi President Mansour Hadi has acted as the current

President since February 2012. On January
2015, he was forced to resign by the Houthis, but
still serves as the internationally recognized
leader of Yemen. Hadi is backed by the
Saudi-led coalition.

Sanaa Sanaa is the largest city in Yemen, and a

UNESCO heritage site. It used to be the
functioning government capital, but is now run by
Houthi rebels.

Aden Since the 2014-2015 Yemeni coup detat, Aden

now serves as the temporary capital. It is a port
city, and is the main source of imports for the
country.
Background Information
Parties Involved + Alignments

Pro Old Government Pro New Government Terrorists

- Saleh regime loyalists - Hadi Government - Islamic State of Iraq and

- Yemeni armed forces the Levant - Yemen
- Houthis (Supreme Province
Revolutionary Committee) - Southern Separatist
- backed by North Korea, Movement - Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Iran, Eritrea Peninsula
- Saudi-led Coalition
- Republican Guard - Saudi Arabia, UAE,
(Salehs army) Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan,
Morocco, Egypt, Senegal,
Qatar (until 2017), Sudan,
- backed by United
States
Central Issues
Political Disputes
1. North vs. South
Yemen was previously separated into two states, North and South Yemen. North
Yemen was originally ruled by the Ottoman Empire, but when the Empire dissolved in
1918, the country became independent and was taken over by Imam Yahya. In 1962 a
civil war sparked in North Yemen when army officers took over and set up the Yemen
Arab Republic, which pit royalists supported by Saudi Arabia, and republicans backed
by Egypt against each other.
Five years later, South Yemen (Peoples Republic of Yemen) formed, and two years
after that Marxists took power, transforming the country economically and socially into a
soviet society. This led to protests and thousands fleeing to North Yemen to seek refuge
from the Marxists, and eventually escalated into armed groups attempting to overthrow
the government.
In 1990 the two Yemens united as the Republic of Yemen, with President Saleh as
President. Despite unification, tensions between the former states endured with
sporadic fighting and a political deadlock, which stemmed from disputes between the
ruling parties of the former north and south. Just four years after the merger, Saleh
declared a state of emergency on account of the unceasing fight between the two sides,
and since then the relationship has not improved, with a separatist movement starting in
the South in 2007. Today, the conflict between the north and south is not seen as the
most pressing on Yemens list of worries, because it is shrouded by terrorist takeovers
and foreign airstrikes. However, a lot of the conflict in Yemen stems from this long
standing dispute.
 2. Old Government vs. New Government
After 33 years in power, President Saleh handed over authority to his deputy, Mansour
Hadi in 2011. Mass protests objecting government incompetence forced him to do so,
these protests apart of a larger movement, Arab Spring. Unfortunately, the political
transition failed and led to unemployment, food insecurity, large scale protests, and
more, which eventually culminated into sparking the current civil war, starting in 2015.
With loyalists to the old Saleh regime in opposition to supporters of the current Hadi
regime, the country descends further into disarray.
This more current dispute of new vs. old government adds another layer onto the
countries already prominent conflict regarding north and south tensions.

Insurgent Groups
1. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant (ISIL)
The Yemeni political plight worsened with the introduction of AQAP in 2000, when there
was an attack on USS Cole in Aden harbour, killing 17 United States sailors. Since
then, the Sunni extremist groups hostile presence has been very visible in Yemen,
conducting numerous and constant attacks, ranging from suicide bombings to seizing
cities. Al-Qaeda now controls a large part of Yemen, and are continuing to fight despite
counter attacks from Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.
In November 2014, ISIL established a chapter of their group in Yemen, acting as direct
competition for AQAP. They have been actively collecting recruits and carrying out a
series of suicide bombings, their attacks largely aimed at civilians associated with the
Shia Houthi movement. Although less of a threat to the state than Al-Qaeda, they have
taken the lives of many and are relentless when it comes to their cause.
The motives of AQAP and ISIL are aligned with their umbrella groups of: to found an
Islamic caliphate, governed under their interpretation of Islam. Al-Qaeda and ISIL tend
to attack vulnerable countries, and both groups have certainly taken advantage of
Yemens numerous issues and defenseless status.

2. The Houthis
The Houthis are a militant group formed from the Shiite Zaidi population in North
Yemen. The localized group has been fighting the central government for years,
accusing them of corruption and segregation of minorities within Yemen by dividing it
into six federal states, which would weaken their own Zaidi sect. They started off as a
theological movement preaching peace, but since 2004 have taken up arms against the
government in a relentless pursuit for power. In 2014 Houthi forces took over Yemens
capital Sanaa, and allied with Saleh loyalists and allegedly Iran, are looking to take over
the entire country. As of now, they have gained foothold in a large part of the western
part of the country, and hope to further influence the Yemeni government in the future.
The Houthis violent presence in Yemen sparked an immediate threat in the eyes of
Saudi Arabia, and have since caused a Saudi-led coalition against them.

International Intervention
1. Saudi-led Coalition
Code named Operation Decisive Storm, Saudi-Arabias intervention plan to influence
the civil war in favour of new President Hadi commenced in 2015. Along with nine other
middle-eastern and north-african countries, Saudi-Arabia began with the bombing of
Houthi rebel bases, then advanced to naval blockades, restriction of access to ports,
and the deployment of ground forces. With the combined weapons, intelligence, and
logistics of these nine countries, plus the help of air strikes from the United States,
Saudi-Arabia was hoping to drive out all opposition to Hadi, preventing a Shia takeover
from the multiple terrorist organizations and Houthis that were planning to dethrone
Hadi. In doing so, this would prevent these Shia groups from spreading their fight to
neighbouring countries (namely Saudi-Arabia, which is directly above Yemen).
Saudi-Arabias attempt at a saftey precaution has exacerbated the issue, displacing
millions more Yemeni and worsening the humanitarian crisis. Saudi-Arabias
involvement is incredibly controversial - while they are protecting the interests and
safety of many surrounding Sunni countries, many lives are at risk as a consequence.

Humanitarian Crisis
As a result of the civil war, an estimated 21.2 million people have been left in need of
some form of humanitarian aid as of March 2017. This includes 10.3 million in need of
urgent, immediate life-saving assistance, according to the UN Office for the
Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA). There are a plethora of problems pertaining to
the issue, one of the most prominent being famine. Around 90% of Yemens food is
imported through its port, and since the Saudi-led naval embargo as well as fighting and
airstrikes along Aden, Yemens port city, there has been restriction of access to basic
necessities, one of them being food. Because of this, 17 million Yemeni face famine,
with 6.8 million severely food insecure. Another 14.4 million people also lack access to
sanitation or clean drinking water. The restrictions on imports of fuel coupled with
damage to sewage treatment facilities and pumps are the cause of this, and have
forced citizens to depend on unprotected wells and untreated water supplies. This has
placed them at risk of life-threatening illnesses, and has led to a massive cholera
outbreak. Those affected are struggling to find help, as health facilities are sparse and
face severe staff, medicine, and equipment shortages. Treatment is increasingly
unavailable due to rising prices, import difficulties, and healthcare workers. Adding onto
the problem is the adverse effect that the conflict has had on education. 2.2 million
children are out of school, and with over 1,600 schools damaged from the war, the
situation does not seem to be getting better. Food, water, sanitation, importation, and
education are just the tip of the humanitarian crisis iceberg - there seems to be a never
ending list of humanitarian problems that Yemenis face.

Timeline

May 1990 North and South Yemen unite under one republic
- After the implosion of former Soviet bloc
- Tensions from both sides still endure

May 1994 President Saleh declares state of emergency

- A lot of conflict arose from unification
- Saleh also fired numerous southern leaders after fighting
and political deadlock
- Former armies that failed to integrate fight on old border

June 1994 Southern leaders secede from Yemen, establish the Democratic
Republic of Yemen (DRY)
- Northern militia capture the Southern city of Aden
- Southern leaders flee abroad and are sentenced to death

October 2000 First significant Al-Qaeda attack

- US Naval vessel USS Cole damaged in suicide mission
- 17 US personnel killed

June 2004 Houthi Insurgency begins

- Fighting starts in the north, hundreds die
- Start of years of continuous conflict

September 2004 Hussein Al-Houthi is killed

- Leader and creator of Houthi revolt

June 2007 New rebel leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi accepts ceasefire

- Despite ceasefire, fighting continues

August 2007 Citizens banned from carrying firearms in capital, Sanaa

- Demonstrations without a permit also outlawed

March 2008 Series of bomb attacks

- Targets: police, officials, diplomats, foreign businesses, and
tourists
- US embassy evacuates personnel
September 2008 Attack on US embassy in Sanaa
- 18 people killed, including 6 assailants

February 2010 Government signs ceasefire with Houthi Northern rebels

- Ceasefire breaks down in December

November 2011 President Saleh hands down power

- Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, Salehs deputy, wins in
uncontested elections

January 2014 National Dialogue Conference

- After 10 months of deliberation, there is agreement on a
document from which the new constitution will be based
upon

February 2014 Approval for Federation

- As apart of political transition, the Presidential Panel gave
approval for Yemen to become a federation of 6 regions

August 2014 Hadi fires his cabinet

- Following massive anti-government protests in which
Houthi rebels were heavily involved
- Hadi overturned controversial fuel price rise

September 2014 Houthi rebels take over Sanaa

January 2015 Houthis reject draft constitution proposed by government

February 2015 Houthis appoint Presidential council to replace Hadi

- Hadi flees to southern city Aden

March 2015 ISIL carries out first major attack

- Two suicide bombings targeting Shia mosques in Sanaa
- 137 killed

March 2015 Houthi rebels advance towards Southern Yemen

- President Hadi flees Aden
- Saudi-led coalition launches air strikes on Houthi targets,
imposes naval blockade

September 2015 President Hadi returns to Aden

- Saudi coalition recaptures Aden from Houthis

April 2016 Start of UN sponsored peace talks

 - Government on one side, Houthis and Salehs General
Peoples Congress (GPC) on the other

October 2016 Both sides break a UN sponsored ceasefire

- Ceasefire declared amid peace talks

January 2017 US raid kills several suspected AQAP militants

- First US military action in Yemen under Donald Trump

May 2017 Houthis continue to fire missiles into Saudi Arabia

- Including capital, Riyadh

July 2017 Cholera outbreak worsens

- Over 1,500 people have died so far according to the WHO

Solutions (Past and Possible):

Past:
1. Ceasefire
In October of 2016, a 72 hour ceasefire was held between all parties as peace talks
commenced. However, attempts failed as the war intensified soon after the ceasefire
broke down.
2. Peace Talks
A 90-day peace talk held in Kuwait between Hadis government, Saleh loyalists, and
Houthis was held Kuwait last year. It has ended without a break through, seeing as
fighting continues between government forces and rebels. Both parties rejected a UN
peace plan, and announced a 10 member governing body to run Yemen. The Houthis
main goal of establishing a unity government and impeaching current President Hadi
from office was not met.

Future:
Seeing as there are so many different conflicts within Yemen, it is hard to come up with
a solution that is conducive of all sides. The goal would be to first end hostilities
between the two sides, each responsible for cooperating with the international
community to end ISIS and Al Qaeda activity within their respective territories. Only
after a period of quiet can the permanent status negotiation conducted under UN
auspices, with options to be considered including a confederation between the north
and south, and re-partition of the country. After peace is achieved in the country, then
the focus should be on humanitarian aid and restoring Yemen to the beautiful country it
once was.

Resources for further reading:

1. Yemen News (Al Jazeera)

2. General/basic Yemen Knowledge
3. UN Yemen News
4. United Nations Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM)
5. Yemen Sanctions Resolution (S/RES/2342)
6. Houthi Resolution (S/RES/2216)

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