A dozen ministers have gathered at a UN conference to urge the world to work toward an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution, but Israel and the United States both boycotted the event.
In September of last year, the 193-member UN General Assembly made the decision to hold a conference in 2025.
Following Israel’s attack on Iran, the conference, which was hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, was postponed.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, urged all nations to support the conference’s goal of a roadmap that specifies the conditions for a Palestinian state while safeguarding Israel’s security.
Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres said in his opening remarks, “We must make sure that it does not turn into yet another exercise in well-intentioned rhetoric.”
It can and must act as a decisive turning point, one that will enable us to realize our shared goal of a viable two-state solution.
At a time when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is threatening the stability and security of the entire region, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “We must work on the ways and means to get there.”
“Only a political, two-state solution will be able to fulfill Israeli and Palestinian citizens’ legitimate desires for peace and security. There isn’t any other choice.
At the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders in September, France will recognize a Palestinian state, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement from last week.
Mohammed Mustafa, the prime minister of Palestine, pleaded with all nations to “recognize the state of Palestine without delay.”
At the start of the meeting, Mustafa remarked, “All states have a responsibility to act now.”
The meeting comes as Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza continues for more than 21 months.
According to Israeli statistics, Hamas’ lead attack on southern Israel in October 2023 resulted in the death of at least 1, 139 people and the capture of more than 200 others as captives.
More than 59, 000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military assault on Gaza since then, mostly women and children, according to health officials in the besieged area.
US and Israel boycott a meeting.
Israel and the US were not present at the meeting despite growing international pressure on Israel to put an end to its war.
The three-day event, according to the US State Department, was “unproductive and ill-timed” and “publicity stunt” that would make finding peace more difficult.
The diplomatic push is “reward for terrorism,” the statement read, and Macron’s declaration that it would “counterproductive” would also be against the promise to recognize a Palestinian state.
Prince Faisal  demanded that US President Donald Trump play a role in the ongoing conflict in a press conference later on Monday.
According to him, “I’m firmly convinced that the US engagement, particularly President Trump’s engagement,” could lead to the end of the immediate conflict in Gaza and a long-term solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The regional powers appeared to have little influence over the situation in Gaza, according to Marwan Bishara, senior political analyst for Al Jazeera.
He claimed that “the Saudis, Egyptians, Jordanians, and others are all ineffective in changing the situation.” They are unable to take any action against the situation in Gaza because they are weak.
A vision of two states interacting in safe and recognized borders has long been supported by the UN.
Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, which Israel claimed in its 1967 conflict with neighboring Arab states.
A Palestinian application to the UN Security Council was overwhelmingly supported by the UN General Assembly in May last year, reaffirming its eligibility and urging the UN Security Council to “reconsider the matter favorably.”
143 people cast ballots in favor of the resolution and nine against it.
After the US vetoed the Palestinian request in the UN Security Council a few weeks earlier, the General Assembly vote was used to gauge support for the Palestinians’ decision to become a full member of the UN.
Source: Aljazeera
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