NEW YORK; At a high-level UN conference on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Monday called on all countries to recognise a Palestinian state, describing it as an essential step towards achieving lasting peace in the region.
“We urge all nations to take this historic step, which will have a major impact in advancing efforts to implement the two-state solution,” Prince Faisal said, thanking French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for their role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
The conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, convened amid continued Israeli military action in Gaza and increasing violence in the West Bank. Prince Faisal condemned what he described as Israel’s “aggression, brutal crimes and repeated attacks,” including its recent strikes on Qatar. Such actions, he stressed, jeopardise regional and international peace.
Reiterating Riyadh’s stance, he said the two-state solution remains “the only path to just and lasting peace,” citing the UN General Assembly’s New York Declaration adopted with 142 votes in favour as proof of overwhelming global support for Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via video link after being denied a US visa, demanded Hamas surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority and reiterated his condemnation of the group’s October 7, 2023, attacks. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of seeking to destroy prospects for Palestinian statehood, calling resistance to Israeli “oppression” a moral duty.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lamented that Palestinian representatives had been denied full participation at the summit, expressing frustration at decades of failed diplomacy and violations of international law. He underscored that the two-state solution is the “only viable way forward.”
In a landmark move, French President Emmanuel Macron formally announced France’s recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a “historic decision in the pursuit of peace.” Macron emphasised that Paris’ recognition aimed to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution and declared: “Today, France recognises the State of Palestine.”
The Palestinian Authority hailed France’s move as both “historic and courageous,” noting that it aligned with international law and UN resolutions. Macron, however, clarified that Paris would delay opening an embassy in Palestine until a ceasefire in Gaza is reached and all hostages are released.
