US dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian conference as 'publicity stunt'
The U.S. State Department labeled the three-day event "unproductive and ill-timed," as well as a "publicity stunt" that would make finding peace harder.
The diplomatic push is a "reward for terrorism," the statement said, also calling the promise to recognize a Palestinian state by French President Emmanuel Macron "counterproductive."
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Nahar Net
an hour ago
- Nahar Net
Canada and Malta to recognize Palestinian state, joining France and possibly Britain
by Naharnet Newsdesk 31 July 2025, 11:21 Canada and Malta announced Wednesday they will recognize the state of Palestine in September, joining France and the United Kingdom in stepping up pressure to end the nearly 80-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement after a Cabinet meeting. Christopher Cutajar, the permanent secretary at Malta's Foreign Ministry, made his country's announcement earlier at the U.N. General Assembly's meeting on a two-state solution to the conflict which was extended to a third day because of the high number of countries wanting to speak. Cutajar said Malta has long supported self-determination for the Palestinian people, and "as responsible actors, we have a duty to work to translate the concept of a two-state solution from theory into practice." "It is for this reason that the government of Malta has taken the principled decision to formally recognize the state of Palestine at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September," he said. Carney said Canada will also make its announcement at the annual gathering of world leaders which starts Sept. 23. He said the intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority "holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made those promises in a June 10 letter and it's unclear what more Carney is seeking. Malta says it wants a 'lasting peace' in Mideast Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela earlier announced the decision by his country, a former British colony, to recognize a Palestinian state on Facebook, saying it is part of the nation's efforts "for a lasting peace in the Middle East." The Mediterranean island nation and European Union member will join more than 145 countries, including over a dozen European nations, in recognizing the state of Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced ahead of this week's meeting that his country will recognize the state of Palestine at the annual gathering of world leaders at the 193-member General Assembly which starts Sept. 23. United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that Britain would recognize the state of Palestine before September's meeting, but would refrain if Israel agrees to a ceasefire and long-term peace process in the next eight weeks. France and Britain are the biggest Western powers and, with Canada, three members of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations have now made such a pledge. Israel opposes a two-state solution and is boycotting the meeting along with its closest ally, the United States. Israel's U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, on Tuesday sharply criticized about 125 countries participating in the conference and new recognitions of a Palestinian state, saying "there are those in the world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then there are those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement." "While our hostages are languishing in Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza, these countries choose to engage in hollow statements instead of investing their efforts in their release," Danon said. "This is hypocrisy and a waste of time that legitimizes terrorism and distances any chance of regional progress." Malta's Cutajar countered that "recognition is not merely symbolic – it is a concrete step towards the realization of a just and lasting peace." Quick action is urged High-level representatives at the U.N. conference on Tuesday urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave "unwavering support" to a two-state solution, and they urged all countries that haven't recognized the state of Palestine to do so quickly. The seven-page "New York Declaration" sets out a phased plan to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza. The plan would culminate with an independent, demilitarized Palestine living side by side peacefully with Israel, and their eventual integration into the wider Mideast region. A separate one-page statement titled the "New York Call" approved late Tuesday by 15 Western nations says they have recognized, "expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration ... to recognize the state of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call." It included six that have recognized the state of Palestine and nine, including Malta and Canada, that had not. The seven that still haven't are Andorra, Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal and San Marino. Saudi Arabia's U.N. ambassador, Abdulaziz Alwasil, suspended the meeting "until further notice" after the 128th and final speaker, saying an outcome document has been sent to all 193 U.N. member nations. States have until the beginning of September to endorse the document.
Nahar Net
6 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Qassem: Ceasefire agreement for South Litani, arms a domestic matter
by Naharnet Newsdesk 12 hours Timeline Qassem: Let the aggression stop, Israel withdraw and the captives return, and after that take the best discussions and response from us. 11 hours Qassem: The arms we have are for resisting Israel, not for the interior, and we won't accept that these arms be handed over to Israel. 12 hours Qassem: We are not threatening; we are in a defensive position. 12 hours Qassem: We will not accept that Lebanon become an appendage of Israel and it will not be able to defeat us. 12 hours Qassem: We will not accept that the arms be handed over to Israel. 12 hours Qassem said Israel is seeking "expansion" in Lebanon and not "security." 12 hours Qassem: Israel has not withdrawn from the five points because it wants to set up settlements in Lebanon. 12 hours Qassem: The U.S. envoy sought to create a problem for Lebanon but Barrack was surprised by the unity of the official Lebanese stance. 12 hours Qassem: Disarmament is a domestic matter. 12 hours Qassem: They thought that Hezbollah had become weak, but they were surprised by Hezbollah's political presence in the state and its popular presence. 12 hours Qassem: The ceasefire agreement was exclusively for the South Litani area. 12 hours Qassem: Israel requested the ceasefire agreement after it considered Hezbollah's withdrawal from the South Litani area as a gain for it ... The agreement achieved gains for us and gains for the enemy and this was normal. 12 hours Qassem: The army is in charge and will remain in charge and we salute it. The people and the resistance are also responsible. 12 hours Qassem said Hezbollah played a role in the election of President Joseph Aoun. 12 hours Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has saluted Georges Ibrahim Abdallah after he returned to Lebanon after 41 years in French prisons. 12 hours Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Wednesday reiterated his stance that the ceasefire agreement reached with Israel in November 'was exclusively for the South Litani area' and not the rest of the country, while stressing that the issue of disarmament is a 'domestic matter.' In a televised address marking the first anniversary of Israel's assassination of Hezbollah's military chief Fouad Shukur, Qassem said "anyone calling today for the surrender of weapons, whether internally or externally, on the Arab or the international stage, is serving the Israeli project." He also accused U.S. envoy Tom Barrack of using "intimidation and threats" with the aim of "aiding Israel." 'They thought that Hezbollah had become weak, but they were surprised by Hezbollah's political presence in the state and its popular presence,' Qassem added. 'The U.S. envoy sought to create a problem for Lebanon but Barrack was surprised by the unity of the official Lebanese stance,' Hezbollah's leader went on to say. Warning that Israel has not withdrawn from the five points because it wants to set up 'settlements' in Lebanon, Qassem said that Israel is seeking "expansion" in Lebanon and not Israeli "security." 'We will not accept that the arms be handed over to Israel,' he stressed. 'We will not accept that Lebanon become an appendage of Israel and it will not be able to defeat us,' he added. 'We are not threatening; we are in a defensive position,' Qassem clarified, adding: 'The arms we have are for resisting Israel, not for the interior, and we won't accept that these arms be handed over to Israel.' 'Let the aggression stop, Israel withdraw and the captives return, and after that take the best discussions and response from us,' Qassem went on to say.
LBCI
11 hours ago
- LBCI
Pressure mounts on Lebanon to resolve Hezbollah weapons issue as US and France push for action
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Mariella Succar Lebanon is running out of time to address the issue of weapons outside state control, as the country awaits an official response from Israel to the message conveyed from Beirut by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack. While the government remains in wait, Barrack's post on X was interpreted by observers as a clear message: the Lebanese government and Hezbollah must immediately commit to disarmament and translate words into action. This position, along with discussions in Paris between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and French President Emmanuel Macron—who reiterated that no aid will be provided to Lebanon before the weapons issue is resolved and reforms are completed—has prompted the prime minister to call for a cabinet session next Tuesday. A key part of the session's agenda will be Hezbollah's weapons. Salam's move followed shuttle meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh and President Joseph Aoun in Baabda, underscoring coordination among the three top officials. The final proposal to be presented during the session is still being finalized. According to LBCI sources, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah are awaiting President Aoun's return from Algeria before clarifying their position. They are also waiting to hear directly from him about the U.S. stance and whether he has received any formal response from Washington. Meanwhile, all eyes are on President Aoun's speech scheduled for Lebanese Army Day on Thursday. According to LBCI, the president is expected to address the weapons issue in depth, outlining the details of negotiations with Tom Barrack, Lebanon's proposals, and the responses received. He will reportedly emphasize the benefits of placing all weapons under state control and warn of the dangers of failing to do so. As the country awaits reactions to Aoun's upcoming address, it has become clear that the decision on Hezbollah's arms was a topic of discussion between the Lebanese Forces and the Progressive Socialist Party. The matter was reportedly part of the talks held in Clemenceau between Samir Geagea and Walid Jumblatt. The Lebanese Forces are expected to demand a clear timeline for disarmament and a roadmap to achieve it during the cabinet session. Ministerial sources say contacts are underway with multiple political factions to rally as many votes as possible in support of this proposal.
