UN Overwhelmingly Endorses Declaration on Two-State Solution for Palestinians, Israel

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Overwhelmingly Endorses Declaration on Two-State Solution for Palestinians, Israel

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)
Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, on screens as he addresses delegates after the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 12, 2025. (Reuters)

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.  

The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the UN in July - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event. 

A resolution endorsing the declaration received 142 votes in favor and 10 against, while 12 countries abstained. 

The vote comes ahead of a meeting of world leaders on September 22 - on the sidelines of the high-level UN General Assembly - where Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium are expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state. 

The declaration endorsed by the 193-member General Assembly condemns the attacks against Israel by Palestinian Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. 

It also condemns the attacks by Israel against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, siege and starvation, "which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis." 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the resolution secured the international isolation of Hamas. 

"For the first time today, the United Nations adopted a text condemning it for its crimes and calling for its surrender and disarmament," he said in an X post. 

The resolution was supported by all Gulf Arab states. Israel and the United States voted against it, along with Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga. 

The declaration endorsed by the resolution says the war in Gaza "must end now" and support the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council. 

The United States described the vote as "yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt" that undermined serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. 

"Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas," US diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the General Assembly. "Far from promoting peace, the conference has already prolonged the war, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace in both short and long term." 

Israel, which has long criticized the UN for not condemning Hamas by name for the October 7 attacks, dismissed the declaration as one-sided and described the vote as theater. 

"The only beneficiary is Hamas …When terrorists are the ones cheering, you are not advancing peace; you are advancing terror," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said. 

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities. 



Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
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Yemen's Al-Alimi Urges Limiting Possession of Weapons to State to Focus on Confronting Houthis

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba)

Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said on Sunday that his country has entered a new decisive phase in restoring state institutions and ending armed coups.

The process of handing over military camps in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra governorates to legitimate authorities is a step towards imposing state monopoly over weapons, he added.

He made his remarks during a meeting in Riyadh with British Ambassador to Yemen is Abda Sharif.

The formation of a supreme military council will help unify all armed forces and military and security formations under the defense and interior ministries, al-Alimi went on to say.

The formation of the committee sends a message that the state has not veered off its national priorities and that the process to hand over military camps was the right call in protecting the internal front, he stressed.

The move aims to protect the internal front and focus state efforts in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi coup either through peaceful means or war, he added.

He discussed with Sharif the latest local developments and efforts to restore order in the liberated governorates.

He hailed the positive role the UK has played in supporting Yemen's unity and legitimate authorities, as well as peace and humanitarian efforts.

Moreover, al-Alimi described as "brave" the Southern Transitional Council's decision to dissolve itself.

It marked a "pivotal moment that reflects a realization of the sensitivity of the current phase and the danger of sliding into internal conflicts that would weaken the internal front against the confrontation against the real threat," he said.

The next phase demands that all national, civilian and military forces align with the state and legitimate authorities and the rule of law, he demanded.

Al-Alimi also highlighted Saudi Arabia's central role in easing the escalation and sponsoring intra-southern Yemen dialogue. This is an extension of its economic and humanitarian support to Yemen.


Israel Army Issues Evacuation Warning for Lebanon Village ahead of Strikes

 Smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Chehour, southern Lebanon November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Chehour, southern Lebanon November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir
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Israel Army Issues Evacuation Warning for Lebanon Village ahead of Strikes

 Smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Chehour, southern Lebanon November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir
Smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Chehour, southern Lebanon November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir

The Israeli army issued an evacuation warning on Sunday for the village of Kafr Hatta in southern Lebanon ahead of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in the area, AFP reported.

"The Israeli (army) will soon, and once again, strike terrorist Hezbollah military infrastructure in the village, in order to address the prohibited attempts it is making to rebuild its activities there," Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee wrote on X, posting a map of the expected target.

The Lebanese army said Thursday that it had completed disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani river, the first phase of a nationwide plan. Kafr Hatta is located north of the river.


Sudan PM Announces Govt Return to Khartoum from Wartime Capital

File Photo: Some shops reopen despite extensive damage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File Photo: Some shops reopen despite extensive damage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Sudan PM Announces Govt Return to Khartoum from Wartime Capital

File Photo: Some shops reopen despite extensive damage (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File Photo: Some shops reopen despite extensive damage (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Sudan's Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced on Sunday the government's return to Khartoum, after nearly three years of operating from wartime capital of Port Sudan, AFP reported.

"Today, we return, and the Government of Hope returns to the national capital," Idris told reporters in Khartoum, ravaged by the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

"We promise you better services, better healthcare and the reconstruction of hospitals, the development of educational services... and to improve electricity, water and sanitation services," he said.