At the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Arab nations pushed for the implementation of a two-state solution. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said recognizing Palestine would lead to “fair negotiations” with Israel.
Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that these efforts are a way to “pressure Israel and advance peace,” especially after Saudi Arabia formed a global alliance to push for the two-state solution.
On Thursday, a ministerial meeting at the UN, attended by representatives from Arab, Islamic, and European countries, discussed the Palestinian issue. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced that the first meeting of the alliance would take place in Riyadh.
Aboul Gheit outlined three key points during the meeting: taking concrete steps to weaken the Israeli occupation, increasing recognition of Palestine to enable equal negotiations, and stressing that peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation and creating a Palestinian state.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza”, urging the international community to stop the attacks on Palestine, according to Egypt’s foreign ministry.
He noted that the crisis isn’t just due to the events of Oct. 7 but stems from years of Israeli actions to entrench an illegal occupation.
Abdelatty stressed the importance of granting Palestinians their right to freedom and establishing a viable independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, in line with international law and the two-state solution.
The New York meeting was called by the Arab-Islamic Contact Group on Gaza, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Türkiye.
It followed a mid-September Arab-European meeting in Madrid, attended by Norway, Slovenia, the EU’s Josep Borrell, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
On his part, Prince Faisal called on all countries to “show courage” and join the 149 nations that already recognize Palestine. He stressed that the two-state solution is the best way to end the ongoing conflict and suffering.
Dr. Saad Okasha, an Israeli affairs expert at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said diplomatic efforts are key to advancing peace.
However, he told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel is unlikely to respond to international calls to end the war or recognize Palestine, especially as it is gaining militarily with US support.
He added that diplomatic efforts are usually more effective after the fighting stops, but they still play a role in preventing further escalation.
In support of the Palestinian cause, Aboul Gheit met with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino. He expressed disappointment over Argentina’s recent positions, which were rejected by Arab countries, and urged a review to avoid negative reactions.
In an informal dialogue with the UN Security Council and Arab leaders, Aboul Gheit warned that the region is at a critical crossroads. He urged the international community to take immediate action to stop Israel’s military operations and push for a fair solution based on the two-state model.
The “Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit” held in Riyadh last November assigned a ministerial committee to stop the war in Gaza and push for a serious peace process.
The committee has since engaged in talks with global leaders to help end the conflict.
