The High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, which was held over three days in New York, is among the most consequential international political initiatives on the Palestinian issue in years. The 42 clauses of the historic document issued at its conclusion seek to generate momentum behind a binding process that leads to a two-state solution and to reinforce international recognition of the State of Palestine. The conference comes at a particularly critical juncture: the war in Gaza continues, regional tensions are rising, and the impasse in negotiations since the last round of peace talks collapsed.
This conference is significant not only because of its location and timing, but also due to its outcomes and participants. One hundred sixty countries took part, with 125 states and regional organizations that explicitly supported the two-state solution in the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine. Foreign ministers, vice presidents, and official envoys from around the globe were in attendance. Over twenty countries issued a joint statement endorsing the proposals of Saudi Arabia and France, and in several states made historic announcements of their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, reflecting its international legitimacy and the world’s support for peace in a rare instance of international consensus on laying a viable political path for the Palestinian cause.
In effect, this was a broad international consensus that has brought major states and regional organizations together in a multilateral alliance of a kind rarely seen in years. The conference also stood out for its pragmatism and focus on actionable steps, laying out a detailed timeline and slogans in favor of substance. It presented a comprehensive roadmap addressing the complexities of the moment on three interconnected levels.
In the short term, it focused on humanitarian de-escalation, calling for an immediate cessation of military operations, facilitating the entry of aid through the United Nations and the Red Cross, and addressing the question of prisoners. In the medium term, it reaffirmed the importance of moving forward with a comprehensive plan for reconstruction led by Arab and Islamic states that lays the groundwork for lasting stability. In the long term, it prioritized building the political and institutional foundations needed for achieving a two-state solution within a clear timeframe following a viable negotiating process.
That is, the conference’s final document has set out a holistic, actionable framework for implementing the two-state solution, which would further international peace and security and contribute to building the future of the region and its peoples. Its emphasis on deadlines and implementation mechanisms makes the conference a concrete step forward, one that is more significant than anything we have seen since the Oslo Accords.
Achieving this broad international consensus would not have been possible without Saudi Arabia’s active diplomacy since the establishment of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution last September. It was followed by a series of follow-up meetings in Riyadh, Brussels, Oslo, Cairo, and Rabat before culminating in the conference in New York. This conference was the result of sustained diplomatic engagement, and it consolidated the international pursuit of a just and comprehensive settlement based on the two-state solution.
Through its consistent efforts, the Kingdom managed to bridge gaps between the various parties and build the common ground needed for the New York Declaration. Riyadh steered this process by balancing a steadfast commitment to principles on the one hand and, on the other, a deep understanding of the complexities of the international landscape. Through this conference, the Kingdom contributed to shaping a new international bloc advocating a comprehensive settlement. By coordinating with France and a number of European and Arab countries, Saudi Arabia ensured that the conference went beyond diplomatic statements and developed a concrete vision.
This diplomatic determination was reflected in the clear commitment to a roadmap to achieve objectives within fifteen months. Indeed, it shows that the Kingdom is not content to merely call for respecting principles; it is developing viable mechanisms to achieve them. Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and pioneering role comes at a time when some major powers are walking back on their commitments or siding with one party at the expense of justice, underlining its independent foreign policy approach grounded in international legitimacy, moderation, and the pursuit of security through justice rather than force.
Finally, important as it is, and despite the political momentum and clear international messages it sent, we should not be excessively optimistic about the results of this conference. We know well that the next stage will present complex challenges. Palestinian division and the positions of certain key actors, especially the United States and Israel, have not changed.
Nonetheless, the mere fact that this conference was convened at such a critical moment, and was attended by high-level representatives, reflects a shift worth following. It could even spark a trajectory that brings the Palestinian question back to the forefront of the international agenda.
