Amid Expectations for More Recognitions: The International Conference on Implementing the Two-State Solution Kicks Off in New York Today

SadaNews - The high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution kicks off today, Monday, in New York, amid expectations for more recognitions of the independent, sovereign State of Palestine.

The conference, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic, includes a large number of UN member states, along with international and regional organizations.

The conference will commence with a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, then UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, followed by the President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.

The conference will start at 3 PM New York time, 10 PM Jerusalem time, and is expected to last for three hours.

On the 19th of this month, the UN General Assembly adopted a decision in favor of President Mahmoud Abbas participating via a pre-recorded speech through video technology at the annual meeting of world leaders in New York.

The decision, supported by 145 countries, permits the State of Palestine to deliver statements via video or to provide a pre-recorded statement in the high-level conference sessions about the resolution of the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution.

It also allowed for the submission of pre-recorded statements for its president or another senior representative in any high-level UN meeting or conference and other international meetings held under the auspices of the General Assembly, as necessary if representatives of the State of Palestine are prevented from participating in UN meetings.

The General Assembly expressed its regret over the United States' decision to deny visas to representatives of the State of Palestine and to revoke the visas that had been granted to them prior to the convening of the 80th session of the General Assembly, thereby preventing them from attending UN meetings in person.

New York Declaration: A Roadmap

Saudi Arabia, in partnership with France, chaired the preparatory meetings for the high-level international conference on peaceful settlement at the United Nations headquarters during April and May 2025, and specialized working groups were established to prepare for the conference and to identify practical outcomes.

The two-state solution conference was originally scheduled for June 2025, but was postponed due to the Israeli war on Iran, and France and Saudi Arabia decided to hold it in two phases: the first was held on July 28 of the past year at the main UN headquarters in New York at the level of foreign ministers.

The meeting yielded the "New York Declaration," which included a set of key provisions focusing on international positions and commitments regarding the peace process and the two-state solution, and stipulates "concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps" towards the two-state solution.

The declaration emphasized "the necessity of collective action to end the war in Gaza" and "Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and its handover to the Palestinian Authority" according to the "one government, one law, one weapon" principle.

It also affirmed that war, occupation, and forced displacement will not achieve peace or security, and that a political solution alone can accomplish that, stressing that ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and implementing the two-state solution is the only way to satisfy legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law.

The declaration emphasized that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian state and must be unified with the West Bank, and that a transitional administrative committee must be established immediately to operate in Gaza after a ceasefire under the umbrella of the Palestinian National Authority.

The New York Declaration committed to rallying political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority, to help enhance its institutional capacities, implement its reform program, and bear its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, and to the immediate release of withheld Palestinian tax revenues, as well as establishing a new framework for transferring customs revenues, in addition to fully integrating Palestine into the international monetary and financial system and ensuring sustainable and long-term banking relations.

It called for maintaining the existing legal and historical status in the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and committing to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and individuals and entities supporting illegal settlements, in accordance with international law.

It also urges Israel to make a clear and public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, and to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, halt all settlement activities, land grabs, and annexation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, publicly abandon any annexation projects or settlement policies, and put an end to settler violence.

The "New York Declaration" affirms that coexistence and normal relations between the peoples and states of the region can only be achieved by ending occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.

On September 12 of this month, the UN General Assembly made a historic decision adopting "the New York Declaration" supporting the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by a large majority (142 votes).

Expectations for New Recognitions of the Palestinian State:

Today's meeting in New York at the level of heads of state comes at a crucial time due to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, increased colonialism, and attacks by the occupying forces and settlers in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Several additional countries are expected to officially recognize the Palestinian state during the conference, including: Malta, Luxembourg, France, New Zealand, Armenia, Belgium, San Marino and Andorra.

Four countries officially recognized the State of Palestine yesterday, Sunday: Britain, Canada, Portugal, and Australia, bringing the total number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine to 153 out of 193 UN member states.