Peace talks / Webinars

Mrs. Chantal Chételat Komagata, Secretary General, UPF SwitzerlandOn 24 November 2025, a webinar, hosted by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an NGO with general consultative status with the ECOSOC of the UN, was convened to examine the UN's role in the Middle East, specifically addressing the question of how the UN's first peacekeeping mission can envision sustainable peace and harmony in a conflict-torn region. Approximately 60 people followed on Zoom, with many others later watching the recording. The UPF's mission, articulated by MC Chantal Chételat Komagata, Secretary General of UPF Switzerland, framed the discussion within the vision of a harmonious global community based on interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values, emphasizing the need to approach global challenges with a heart-centered, value-based approach.

Major General Gauchat, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff for UNTSOThe keynote was delivered by Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff for the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and Commander for the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), an EPFL engineer with extensive UN experience across continents. Major General Gauchat outlined the work of the UN, focusing on the security and peacekeeping dimensions. He described UNTSO, established in 1948, as the UN's original peacekeeping mission, whose core tasks are ceasefire monitoring via non-armed staff from 31 nations and maintaining a vital liaison channel between non-communicating parties. He detailed the mission's operations across three time periods: before October 7, 2023, during the recent conflicts, and in the period following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on November 17^th 2025, which endorsed the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and authorized an International Stabilization Force.

In his analysis of the current situation, the Major General noted that the UN's presence at the Blue Line in Lebanon created a necessary restraint on parties, aiding in respecting the rules of war, even if ceasefires were not always upheld. He distinguished between Chapter VI missions (like UNTSO and UNDOF), where the UN helps parties achieve agreements, and Chapter VII missions where mandates are imposed. He noted that any future mission in Gaza would likely fall under a Chapter VIII model, relying on a regional coalition. Addressing the operational challenges, he spoke to the difficulty of maintaining impartiality and the dangers and trauma experienced by staff in the field, addressed by stress counselors and transfers, and the use of confidence-building measures by sharing neutral information between the parties (e.g., between the IDF and Syrian transitional authorities). He cited the Swiss federalist system as an example that gives a stronger voice to minorities. Ultimately, he expressed strong hope for future peace, citing the fundamental goodness of the people he has met and his belief that a culture of peace is possible

Dr. Eldad Pardo, Research Director of IMPACT-seThe discussion was then broadened by two distinguished respondents. Dr. Eldad J. Pardo, Research Director, IMPACT-se, an expert on Iran and Middle Eastern curricula, introduced a geopolitical perspective by highlighting his core field. He emphasized that the UN's role should extend to education, recognizing its importance by expressing pleasure that the UN forces also assist in restoring schooling. This point was affirmed by Major General Gauchat, who responded by citing examples of his own involvement in educational institutions. Dr. Pardo also analyzed the regional debate surrounding UN missions, noting the unilateral positive opinion towards UNDOF but raising the concern debated in Israel that UNIFIL's presence in South Lebanon may inadvertently strengthen Hezbollah's activities while restricting Israeli movement.

Dr. Shelley Elkayam; Professor of Intercultural Theology, Göttingen UniversityDr. Shelley Elkayam, Professor, Intercultural Theology, a psychoanalyst and ethics specialist, added a crucial spiritual and cultural layer by emphasizing the importance of ethics, noting that "each period has its own ethics." She highlighted the profound violation that occurs when conflicts attack sacred time, citing historical precedents where major attacks, on October 7^th, 2023, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which occurred on holy days. She stressed the need to educate parties that these holy times must remain inviolable. Major General Gauchat confirmed his awareness of such religious sensitivities in his response.

Hod Ben Zvi, Chair, UPF Israel

The webinar concluded with remarks from Hod Ben Zvi, Chair of UPF Israel, who reinforced the UPF's commitment to the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) and the importance of strengthening civil society and character-based leadership to complement the essential structural work of the United Nations in the pursuit of sustainable peace.