A Saudi-backed political initiative at the United Nations, held in coordination with France, has triggered renewed momentum for the two-state solution and spurred new pledges to recognize a Palestinian state, following Paris’s recent announcement of its intent to do so.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to follow French President Emmanuel Macron in recognizing Palestinian statehood as early as September, unless Israel takes tangible steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and engage in serious peace talks.
The announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting in London and was reaffirmed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during the conference in New York.
Facing mounting domestic and international pressure, Starmer warned that the UK would move ahead with recognition unless Israel halts its military campaign in Gaza, allows unimpeded humanitarian aid into the enclave, and commits to credible negotiations to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Recognition by the UK — historically tied to Israel’s creation through the 1917 Balfour Declaration — would mark a major diplomatic shift. It would make Britain the second G7 country, after France, to recognize a Palestinian state, and the fourth among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to do so. It would also bolster a growing Western consensus, something Paris has been actively encouraging.
The New York conference’s closing statement, endorsed by 15 Western nations, called for recognizing Palestinian statehood as a key step toward a two-state solution. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the move as “a geopolitical earthquake,” noting it was the first time such recognition was being considered collectively by Western powers.
The endorsing nations included Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Iceland, San Marino, and Andorra. Malta has formally pledged recognition, while Canada, Finland, and Portugal are reportedly preparing to follow suit.
“We have recognized, expressed readiness, or hold a favorable view toward recognizing the State of Palestine as a crucial step toward a two-state solution,” the declaration read. “We call on all states that have not yet done so to join this effort.”
The document also outlined goals for post-war Gaza, including reconstruction, disarmament of Hamas, and the group’s exclusion from Palestinian governance — indicating a united Western vision for the day after the war.
Diplomacy Goes Viral
The tone of the joint statement reflects not only collective intent but also encouragement for others to act. Currently, 149 countries recognize the State of Palestine.
According to French diplomatic sources, Macron’s recent announcement served a dual purpose: to pressure hesitant European governments and give them time to align their positions ahead of a leaders' summit in New York, tentatively set for September 21.
France’s Foreign Ministry said Barrot told UN Secretary-General António Guterres that the recognition move was part of a broader political strategy backed by the conference — one that seeks to legitimize Palestinian statehood, normalize ties with Israel, reform Palestinian governance, and ensure Hamas’s disarmament and exclusion.
The closing section of the road map captures the core objective: “This is a historic opportunity. It is time for decisive, collective action to end the war, establish a Palestinian state, and secure peace and dignity for both peoples.”
Global Participation Defies Pressure
Despite Israeli and US pressure, the conference drew broad participation, with 125 countries and dozens of international and regional organizations — including the EU and Arab League — in attendance. More than 40 foreign ministers took part.
Macron’s decision to announce France’s plan to recognize Palestine during the high-level UN General Assembly week in September triggered a backlash at home. Critics warned it would be an empty gesture with little impact on the ground and could leave France diplomatically isolated, since no other major Western state had yet committed to a similar move.
Skeptics argued that the two-state solution had become a relic of the past due to political and military developments — and Israel’s outright rejection of a Palestinian state. Last year, the Israeli Knesset passed a resolution opposing Palestinian statehood, and just last week, it voted to urge the government to annex the West Bank, with 71 lawmakers in favor.
For many in Israel, recognizing Palestinian statehood equates to rewarding Hamas and terrorism, a stance frequently echoed by the government. Israeli officials have warned such moves undermine peace efforts and prolong the war in Gaza.
Yet, the opposite seems to have occurred.
Saudi-French Alliance Revives Two-State Vision
France and Saudi Arabia, co-sponsors of the conference, succeeded in reviving international focus on the two-state solution — long sidelined amid escalating violence and regional fragmentation.
In just two days, over two-thirds of UN member states turned their attention to a comprehensive road map, the product of weeks of work by eight co-chaired Arab and international working groups. The document offered actionable proposals on ending the conflict and steering the region toward security, economic integration, and humanitarian recovery.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan described the seven-page final document as a “comprehensive, actionable framework for implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace and security for all.”
He urged states to endorse the document before the end of the 79th session of the General Assembly by notifying either the Saudi or French missions to the UN.
