Source：Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies , 26 Nov 2025

Abstract：The United Nations is the core collective security mechanism of the international community. The Middle East has been a battlefront for great power competition and has been plagued by ongoing violence. This paper analyzes the experiences and lessons learned from the UN’s governance of Middle East conflicts since its founding through the evolution of the international security mechanisms. Using the case study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it argues that the UN has emphasised direct intervention and active peacekeeping in response to the insecurity felt by nations in the post-World War II era. However, with the shifting dynamics of the international order, the United States and its allies have emerged as significant obstacles to UN collective action, resulting in questions about the UN’s credibility. As regional conflicts have become increasingly complex, the UN’s security governance has expanded into more comprehensive assistance and reconstruction strategies. Moving forward, the UN will likely rely more on collaboration with major powers and regional organisations to address and resolve conflicts.

Keywords：United Nations；evolution of international security mechanisms；Middle East conflict；security governance