The United Nations Votes Today on a Resolution Relating to the Outcomes of the International Conference for a Two-State Solution

SadaNews - On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution proposed by France and the UK, supported by dozens of other countries, to endorse the outcomes of the "High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Issue and the Two-State Solution," which will culminate in a summit meeting on September 22 as part of the 80th annual session of the General Assembly in New York.

Paris is well aware of the "deep chasm" separating the summit's goals from the on-ground reality, whether in Gaza, where the Israeli government continues its war with no clear end in sight amid calls for the re-settlement of the area, or in the West Bank, where calls for its annexation or parts of it are growing louder.

France senses the stated Israeli-American hostility towards the anticipated summit; on one hand, Israel threatens France and other countries that have declared their intention to recognize the Palestinian state, coinciding with the New York summit, which is co-chaired by Saudi and French leadership, with actions that will either affect its interests or "retaliation" through increased pressure on the Palestinians or accelerating the annexation process.

On the American side, Washington is working, through various pressures, to discourage participating countries, urging them to refrain from following Paris's lead and not to recognize the Palestinian state. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the birth of the Palestinian state "cannot happen this way," meaning through recognition, which he described as a "gift" to "Hamas."

It was rumored in Paris that during a call between French President Emmanuel Macron and American President Donald Trump, Macron raised the issue of Washington's refusal to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation headed by Mahmoud Abbas to enable their participation in the summit, to which the White House responded that this matter is not its responsibility but rather that of the Secretary of State.

The New York summit will be held amid the absence of American and Israeli participation but with a significant presence of world leaders.

The Two-State Solution: The Only Proposed Peace Plan

Despite the numerous obstacles placed on the road to the summit, France and many other countries still see the "two-state solution" as the only feasible way to end the cycle of violence that has plagued the region for decades and to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

French sources mentioned that what amplifies the importance of the initiative is that it is the "only political initiative" currently under discussion, while other initiatives have either been stalled or faded, including the initiative launched by Trump with the "Abraham Accords." The sources noted that Paris aims to frame its joint initiative with Saudi Arabia within the context of the goals that Trump sought to achieve, which is to reach a regional peace through the two-state solution rather than ignoring the conflict.

Paris indicates that the "roadmap" for the two-state solution, developed by eight groups over six months and presented at the New York meeting on July 28 and 29, received 90 endorsements and will be put to a vote on Friday at the General Assembly meeting, where it is expected to achieve a sweeping majority to subsequently become an official United Nations document.

Paris is still subject to criticism from those who adopt the Israeli narrative regarding recognition, thus a presidential source emphasized refuting its content by indicating that the Palestinian state to be recognized "will not have (Hamas) involved in it," and this is stated in the final declaration issued from the July meeting.

The Political Dynamic

Paris believes that the "roadmap" offers the potential to address all aspects of the conflict, including the ongoing war in Gaza, by expediting a ceasefire that allows for the end of the war, the release of hostages, and the delivery of aid to the residents of the area, in addition to addressing the "next day" issue of how to maintain security and manage the area.

In this regard, Paris refers to what is mentioned in the "roadmap" concerning the formation of a force or body tasked with ensuring stability. The importance of the plan, according to Paris, lies in its specification of the political framework within which the process of recognizing the Palestinian state falls.

France expresses satisfaction that President Macron's initiative to recognize the state of Palestine has attracted several Western countries, including members of the "Group of Seven" such as the UK and Canada, as well as other countries like Portugal, Belgium, Australia, Luxembourg, and Malta, while other Asian countries have shown "interest" in recognition, such as Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore.

According to the French reading, developments indicate that the "political dynamic" sought by Paris is present and effective. Macron is expected to officially announce France's recognition of the Palestinian state from the podium of the United Nations on the day of the summit.