States, including certain members of the Council. It did this in order to facilitate the withdrawal of Palestinians from Beirut. Furthermore, history has forged the closest of links between Tunisia and the rest of the Arab nation. Tunisia is a State known for its moderation, balanced poli- cies and open attitude. It has never been a staging area for terrorism; on the contrary, it houses the headquarters of the League of Arab States, which in 1982 adopted the Arab peace plan [ibid.]. That is why Tunisia’s willingness to welcome Palestinians after Israel invaded Lebanon is praiseworthy, for it contributed to lessening the tension in our region, thereby preventing a further outbreak of vio- lence. This is an important fact which should be over- looked by no one, certainly not by the members of the Council. 139. Everyone knows that the persistence of the Pales- tinian problem and Israel’s continued occupation of Arab territories are the real causes of the tension and instability in the Middle East and of the resulting extremism. The cause of the violence is obvious: it lies in the absence of a just political solution. That is why it is of paramount importance to get the peace process moving again and to work seriously and sincerely for peace, rather than sup- porting or encouraging Israeli aggression. For in fact, Israel is trying by its military retaliatory actions to hobble the peace process and gain control of a situation marked by violence and extremism, a situation in which Israel holds the trump cards. Israel is trying to delay as long as possible a lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. That is why we are greatly concerned at actions to mask the true nature of Israel’s raid against Tunisia on 1 October and to attempt to justify it. 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a political statement or a speech, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the role of Tunisia in the conflict, and the need for a peaceful solution. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting a context of international relations and diplomacy.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations