65 years after the assassination of Folke Bernadotte

Folke Bernadotte’s brave efforts to find a solution to one of the most complex conflicts were to cost him his life. It is exactly 65 years ago to the day that he was ambushed and murdered in Jerusalem by Israeli terrorists. The assassination took place one day before he was due to present a plan for a political solution to the Palestinian question to the UN Security Council.

Folke Bernadotte was the first ever UN mediator. Bernadotte’s mediation mission formed the basis for the first UN peace operation, UNTSO (United Nations Supervision Truce Organization). The primary aim of the mission was and is to monitor agreements reached, and act as an intermediary between the parties to avert potential conflicts. Today, UNTSO monitors the truces between Israel, Lebanon and Syria and the peace agreements between Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

Three years prior, during the final years of the Second World War, he led the White Buses mission to rescue thousands of people from Nazi concentration camps in Germany.

Today, the 17 September, the FBA and the Consulate General of Sweden in Jerusalem arrange a ceremony to commemorate Bernadotte and his work to promote human dignity and peace.

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In 2024, global conflict levels are historically high. One country seemingly defying this trend is Colombia, which continues to take cautious steps towards a more peaceful development after nearly 60 years of conflict. Following the peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla in 2016, negotiations are now underway with the largest remaining guerrilla group, the ELN, as part of President Gustavo Petro's comprehensive peace project, Paz Total – total peace. But how well does the image of Colombia as a peaceful success story hold up, and what lessons can be drawn from the country's peace process?

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An Insider’s View: Lessons from the Afghan Peace Process, 2001-2021

This insider’s view gives a first-hand account of the Afghan peace process between the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban between 2001 and 2021.

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Baryalai Helali
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2024

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