The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, has briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East and has warned against the continuing threat of Israel’s annexation of parts of the West Bank, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace and our broader efforts to maintain international peace and security. He pointed out that recent opinion polls show that the Israeli public is divided on this issue, while countries in the region and many in the international community clearly stated their positions regarding annexation. He also has called on his colleagues in the Middle East Quartet – the United States, the Russian Federation and the European Union — to work with the United Nations and quickly come forward with a proposal that will enable the Quartet to take up its mediation role and work jointly with countries in the region to advance the prospect of peace. To check the news, click here