By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK – On July 28-29 at the U.N. General Assembly, high-level officials are meeting to promote a two-state solution that would ultimately bring an end to the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. The UN-Palestine Conference is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia with the agenda entitled The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementatıon of the Two-State Solution. While France and Saudi Arabia highlight and seek to revive the two-state solution at the conference – Israel and the U.S. chose to boycott the two-day conference with the U.S. labeling it “counterproductive” in its efforts to end the war in Gaza – Netanyahu’s Israeli government opposes a two-state solution. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his opening remarks at the conference warned that a two-state solution appears to be out of reach, pointing out “the obliteration of Gaza that has unfolded before the eyes of the world,” emphasizing the Israeli Knesset’s decision last week to annex the West Bank. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa urged all countries who haven’t recognized Palestinian statehood to do so “without delay” and lauded France’s decision to do so in September. As Mustafa reiterated: “The path to peace begins by recognizing the state of Palestine and preserving it from destruction.”
France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot presented a moving speech about the reason that his country is choosing to recognize Palestinian statehood. Barrot said France “undertook the initiative together with Saudi Arabia and launched a collective endeavor to revive the two-state solution.” He said many countries worked toward this for the last six months and that there is now “new hope” because of “historic commitments” by countries who have pledged to recognize Palestine as a state. He added that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman made three official declarations, including condemning the October 7 attack on Israel, calling for the immediate release of all hostages still held in Gaza and agreeing to organize presidential elections for Palestine in 2026. Barot also said that civil representatives and diplomats from both Israel and Palestine met on June 30 to explore a path forward for a two-state solution. That meeting included discussion of a two-state solution, a focus on practical steps, civil society engagement and international support.
Barrot underscored the urgency in achieving a two-state solution when he said: “We absolutely cannot resign ourselves to this situation and we cannot wait any longer because time is against us.” He underscored that for France “it is our historic responsibility and it is an honor to take this responsibility,” to recognize Palestinian statehood, he said. The French minister also said “There is no longer military justification” for the war in Gaza and said that “France acknowledges that it is the sacred right of peoples to determine their own fate.” While Barrot acknowledged that France has always stood by Israel and its right to exist, that is now time to do the same for Palestine. Barrot said “France stood by Israel every time its existence was challenged or threatened,” adding “France acknowledges and recognizes the same right with the Palestinian people.” He further stated: “That is why France considers that the only alternative to the long cycle of violence is the prospect of having these two people living side by side in peace and security.” Barrot reiterated: “This is the solution that France has been upholding for decades.”
He made it clear that despite the obvious obstacles that appear insurmountable to a two-state solution and the ‘powers that be’ who are against it – France will not back down from its support for Palestinian statehood. Barrot outlined the threats to Palestinian statehood that include: “the accelerated pace of Jewish settlements in the West Bank,” “extremist Jewish settlers” who are not made accountable for their brutal attacks on Palestinians and their infrastructure, “the mixing up of the Palestinian authority and by the Knesset who voted in favor of annexing the West Bank last week.” Despite all that, Barrot said: “France is ready to fully recognize the state of Palestine and will do so in September.” In his delivery at the conference, Barrot made it clear that the French and Saudi effort to promote the two-state solution involves some crucial premises. As Barrot said, “Palestine is not and it will never be Hamas,” – “It is to bolster those Palestinians who promote non-violence” and he added: “It is also a rejection of allowing the extremists in Israel to say the Palestinians have no right to exist.” Barrot said the ultimate goal with this collective endeavor is “To open a long-awaited chapter on peace.”
