various kinds giving rise to emotion and resentment, to fear and conflict, to a vicious circle of action and reactiorr, violence and reprisal, and to a series of seemingly inslir- mountable obstacles to the process of conciliation and settlement. The fact that conciliation and peaceful settle- ment would unquestionably be to the advantage of all concerned has not as yet carried enough weight to counterbalance the intensity of feeling and conflicts of interest which prevail in the area. 18. Another reality is the wider context of world relation- ships which are represented in the Council itself. It is no secret that the Council consists of representatives and groupings who represent fundamentally different attitudes to certain international problems, one of which is that of the Middle East. This second reality often makes it difficult for the Council to act with unanimity in promoting settlement of a problem as complex as that of the Middle East. None the less, the debates and consultations of the Council, however acrimonious they may have been at times, have tended to act as a safety valve, as a process for decreasing tension, and as a means of turning away from conflict. 19. These realities must be seen in the perspective of the relevant principles and provisions of the Charter, to which all Member States have voluntarily adhered and which are the foundation of the activities of all organs of the United Nations, including this Council, 20. When it last considered the problem of the Middle East as a whole, more than five years ago, the Council did manage, after great efforts, to adopt unanimously a resolution which was, and still is, the basis for the search for peace in the Middle East. In adopting resolution 242 (1967) the Council demonstrated its willingness and ability to agree on a basic -approach to an infinitely 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations, conflicts, and diplomatic efforts, specifically in the context of the Middle East. It mentions the United Nations and its Council, which suggests a focus on international politics and diplomacy. The text also touches on the concept of peace and conflict resolution, which could be related to humanitarian aid and relief. However, the primary focus seems to be on the diplomatic efforts and conflicts rather than specific humanitarian or economic issues.

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