France & Saudi Arabia Push for Two-State Solution at UN Conference

International Conference on Palestine

• 🌍 A joint press conference by France and Saudi Arabia highlighted the UN High-Level International Conference on "The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution."
• 🤝 The conference, co-organized by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed to deliver a clear message that peace is possible and to provide a political horizon.
• 🗓️ Despite regional escalations, determination to hold the conference persisted, bringing together 125 countries, with 50 represented at the ministerial level in New York.

Urgency and Humanitarian Crisis

• ⚠️ The situation in Gaza is described as horrendous, with civilian populations in Israel and Palestine paying a horrible price for recent attacks and the ongoing war.
• 💔 The plight of hostages, starving civilians, and bombarded children and women is called an assault on humanity and international principles.
• 🆘 The conference sought to provide an alternative to a permanent state of war, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire, which was being discussed under UN, Egyptian, and Qatari auspices.

Key Commitments and Recognition of Palestine

• 🕊️ France reaffirmed its historic position that the two-state solution (Israel and Palestine living in peace and security) is the only way forward.
• ✍️ Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas committed to condemning October 7th attacks, calling for hostage release, Hamas's disarmament and exclusion from Gaza governance, fighting hate rhetoric, and holding elections in 2026.
• 🤝 The "Paris Appeal" was launched, calling for normalized relations between Arab/Muslim countries and Israel, regional integration, and the recognition of the state of Palestine.
• 🇫🇷 France committed to recognizing the state of Palestine at the next General Assembly in September, reaffirming the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

Regional Peace and Saudi Arabia's Stance

• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to the two-state solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative and UN resolutions.
• 🌟 The Kingdom commended France's commitment to recognize Palestine as a historic step acknowledging the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.
• 🚫 Saudi Arabia categorically rejects any attempt to separate, occupy, or forcibly displace Gazans, and supports efforts for a ceasefire, hostage release, and humanitarian aid delivery.
• 🤝 Saudi Arabia's normalization with Israel remains contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state and addressing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Path Forward and International Cooperation

• 🗺️ The outcome document of the conference is intended as a roadmap towards the two-state solution, based on the work of 18 working groups.
• 🗣️ Dialogue is ongoing with European and Asian countries to encourage recognition of the state of Palestine, with France being the first G7 country to take this step.
• ⚖️ Recognition of Palestine is seen as enhancing its capacity to negotiate with Israel and undermining extremist attempts to derail the two-state solution.
• 🇺🇸 The US is considered an essential actor, and President Trump's engagement is seen as potentially catalytic for ending the Gaza crisis and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.