A majority of countries announced on Monday a clear readiness to recognize a Palestinian state, saying it was a "right, not a reward," while also demanding an end to the war on Gaza.
Saudi Arabia and France chaired on Monday the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In a landmark move, France recognized the State of Palestine.
"France today recognizes a State of Palestine," said French President Emmanuel Macron, co-chair of the conference, saying he was supporting "peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples."
"The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it," he added. "The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement."
Macron, however, said France would not open an embassy to a Palestinian state until a ceasefire is in place in Gaza and all hostages released.
The Palestinian Authority hailed France's "historic and courageous" decision and its delegation gave him a standing ovation.
Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal also recognized a Palestinian state, piling pressure on Israel as it intensifies its war in Gaza.
Monaco, Belgium, Andorra, Malta and Luxembourg then all recognized from the General Assembly podium, bringing the total number of recognitions to three-quarters of UN membership.
Spain, Ireland and Norway already recognized a Palestinian state in May, and Sweden did so in 2014.
Saudi Foreign Minister and co-chair of the conference Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah called for all countries to recognize a Palestinian state.
"We call on all other countries to take a similar historic step that will have a great impact on supporting the efforts towards implementation of the two-state solution," he urged.
In an address on behalf of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, he said the conference was a "historic opportunity to achieve peace and it underscores the international commitment to the two-state solution."
He noted that the conference was being held as Israeli continues its "barbaric crimes against the brotherly Palestinian people in Gaza and violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem." It is also carrying out attacks against the sovereignty of Arab and Islamic nations, the most recent of which was the attack on Qatar earlier in September.
He warned that Israel’s "continued aggression is a threat to regional and international security and stability, undermines peace efforts in the region and reinforces our conviction that the two-state solution is the only way to achieve lasting and just peace in the region."
He hailed France and other countries for their recent recognition of the State of Palestine, calling on more countries to do so.
These moves reflect wide support for the General Assembly vote on September 12 to endorse a declaration outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution. A total of 142 countries backed the resolution.
"Saudi Arabia is forging ahead with its partner France and all peace-loving countries to follow up on the outcomes of Monday’s conference to put a stop to the war on Gaza and all unilateral measures that threaten Palestinian sovereignty to resolve the conflict in the region and establish a Palestinian state along the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital," declared Prince Faisal.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, forced to address the conference virtually because the US refused to grant him a visa, praised the countries that recognized the State of Palestine.
"We call on those who have not yet done so to follow suit," he urged.
"We call for your support so that Palestine becomes a full-fledged member of the United Nations," he added, promising reforms and elections within a year of a ceasefire.
He also said Hamas will not have a role in rule, stressing that it and other armed groups will have to lay down their weapons to the PA.
He condemned the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people, as well as the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war on Gaza. He called for an end to Israeli settlement expansion, annexation of the West Bank, terrorization by settlers and violations against Muslim and Christian sanctities.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian told Asharq Al-Awsat that such a growing number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine would not have been possible without Saudi support.
She praised the efforts led by Saudi Arabia and France, in full coordination with the Palestinian state, recalling when the conference was just an idea, leading up to the New York Declaration.
Closing statement
A closing statement by the conference said it "led to the adoption of the New York Declaration endorsed by the General Assembly with an outstanding majority of 142 votes. This ambitious declaration reaffirms the unwavering international commitment to the two-state solution and charts an irreversible pathway to build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and all peoples of the region."
"As we are gathered, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate with the intensification of the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza city, and with civilians and hostages paying an unjustifiable price due to the ongoing war. The New York Declaration aims at providing a principled, yet realistic alternative to the cycle of violence and endless wars," it added.
"It is now time for the international community to move from words to deeds. We call on all states to swiftly implement the New York declaration through tangible, concrete and irreversible measures."
"Ending the war in Gaza and ensuring the release of all hostages remains our absolute priority. We call for a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, exchange of prisoners, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," it stressed.
"In order to secure the Day After for Palestinians and Israelis, we commit to supporting the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission upon invitation by the Palestinian Authority, to be mandated by the UN Security Council, in line with the New York Declaration. Meanwhile, we commit to scaling up our support to train and equip Palestinian police and security forces, building on existing programs."
"We stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We welcome the ‘One State, One Government, One Law, One Gun’ policy of the Palestinian Authority and pledge our continued support to its implementation," said the statement.
"In the context of ending the war in Gaza, we reiterate that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza, disarm and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign Palestinian State."
"We urge the Israeli leadership to seize this opportunity for peace, and to issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, halt all settlement, land grabs, and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and put an end to settlers’ violence," it demanded.
"As a first step, we urge Israel to rescind the E1 project, and publicly renounce any annexation project. We reiterate that any form of annexation is a redline for the international community that bears serious consequences and constitutes a direct risk to existing and future peace agreements."
"We reiterate our call to all States to join this dynamic to ensure peace and security for all in the Middle East, mutual recognition and full regional integration," it said.
