UN Conference on Two-State Solution Kicks Off in New York with Call for Establishing a Palestinian State

SadaNews - This evening, Monday, the work of the high-level international conference to resolve the Palestinian issue through peaceful solutions and to implement the two-state solution commenced in New York City, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, stated that the conference represents a pivotal moment towards activating the two-state solution, ending the occupation, and embodying a just and sustainable vision for peace in the Middle East.

He praised the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding his country's intention to recognize the State of Palestine, stating that this is a historic step that reflects the growing international support for the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state, and contributes to creating the international atmosphere necessary to achieve the two-state solution.

He affirmed that Saudi Arabia believes that achieving security, stability, and prosperity for all the peoples of the region begins with just treatment of the Palestinian people and enabling them to obtain their legitimate rights, foremost of which is the establishment of their independent state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He stressed that an independent Palestinian state is the key to genuine peace in the region.

The significance of international efforts being consolidated through this conference to support the Palestinian people in building their institutions and supporting a peaceful solution was also emphasized.

He spoke about the immediate and ongoing support provided by Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the serious escalation in the West Bank, stressing the need for an immediate halt to the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the war and the grave Israeli violations, holding those responsible accountable, and ending the policy of impunity.

He added that the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the Beirut Summit in 2002 is a comprehensive foundation for any fair and comprehensive solution, and stressed the importance of global support to implement the two-state solution as a practical framework to follow up on the outcomes of this conference and to coordinate international efforts towards clear, time-bound steps to end the occupation and realize the Palestinian state.

For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that this session will compile the results of roundtable meetings to unify visions and highlight what has been achieved in all pathways, focusing on what actions will be taken in the upcoming phase.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that the two-state solution is the only viable track for achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, stating that it is the "essential requirement" for peace in the wider Middle East.

However, the Secretary-General warned that we have "reached a breaking point" and that this solution is now "further away than ever."

Guterres thanked Saudi Arabia and France for organizing the conference, emphasizing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - which has persisted for generations and has defied hopes, diplomacy, and international law - continues to claim lives, destroy futures, and destabilize the region and the world.

He affirmed that the continuation of this conflict is not inevitable, and that a solution is possible if there is political will and courageous leadership.

The Secretary-General called for greater efforts to achieve the two-state solution, considering today's conference a "rare and indispensable opportunity" that should be a "decisive turning point" that drives irreversible progress towards ending the occupation and achieving our shared aspiration for two states with sustainable foundations.

He added: "We must ensure that (the conference) does not become just another exercise in goodwill rhetoric."

António Guterres stressed that the two-state solution is the only framework rooted in international law that is supported by the international community, which calls for the establishment of two independent states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders based on pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, in line with international law, UN resolutions, and relevant agreements.

He emphasized that nothing can justify the "destruction of Gaza unfolding before the eyes of the world."

He highlighted the tragic conditions, including "starving populations, the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, and the fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian land."

The Secretary-General stressed that the "total destruction" of Gaza is intolerable and must stop, and that "unilateral actions that could undermine the two-state solution forever are unacceptable and must cease."

Guterres also pointed to the Knesset's support for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, clearly stating that "the creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank is illegal and must stop."

The conference, which will run until July 30, includes a large number of United Nations member states, international and regional organizations, UN specialized agencies, and civil society organizations, with Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa representing the State of Palestine.

The conference comes amid the dire conditions faced by the Palestinian people due to the illegal Israeli occupation and its grave violations, aiming to implement UN resolutions and the two-state solution, representing an important turning point for resolving the Palestinian issue.

It is also a response to the decision of the United Nations General Assembly and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation and the necessity of ending it immediately. Its goal is not limited to launching a serious and binding political track with a timeline, but also establishing clear international commitments to politically and economically support the State of Palestine, backing the government’s reform and development program, and helping Gaza recover and rebuild after halting the ongoing genocide.

The conference is viewed as a pivotal moment, moving beyond mere symbolism towards practical steps for realizing the two-state solution, addressing illegitimate Israeli policies: from war and starvation in Gaza to ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and the settlement and annexation system. It also represents an opportunity to rally support for the Gaza Reconstruction Conference and a donor conference for the Palestinian economy, and to compel Israel to implement signed agreements, foremost among them the immediate release of withheld Palestinian funds, and reviewing agreements to liberate the Palestinian economy from imposed restrictions, particularly in areas classified as (C).

The key outcomes will focus on a collective international move to immediately stop Israeli aggression on Gaza: halting famine and forced displacement, allowing humanitarian aid in, and ensuring effective protection for the Palestinian people. It will also include commitments from countries to take specific, irrevocable steps beginning with the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine, aimed at achieving a just settlement based on the two-state solution that leads to an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.

The outcomes will also include direct political and economic support for the Palestinian government and its reform program, initiating discussions on strategic state projects such as the airport, port, and crossings, ensuring Palestinians have access to their natural resources, and finding urgent solutions for releasing withheld clearance funds.

The conference will work to establish a temporary international mission to achieve stability under UN and Security Council supervision, with regional participation, alongside real measures to face settlement activity, annexation, and disarm settlers.

Economically, the conference will explore support for the development of the Palestinian private sector, removing restrictions on movement and access, fully integrating Palestine into the international financial and monetary systems, working towards full membership in the UN and global financial institutions, and creating an international mechanism to follow up on the implementation of these outcomes, ensuring continued international momentum until achieving the two-state solution and establishing an independent, free, and economically viable State of Palestine. These are not just statements; they are vital commitments.

The UN Conference on the Two-State Solution is not merely a passing meeting or another statement in the archives of international politics, but a decisive juncture and a path that will be meticulously followed up, with accountability for its outcomes, and insistence on translating them into a political and economic reality that changes the lives of the Palestinian people and establishes an independent State of Palestine rightfully.