New York conference to boost efforts for two-state solution: Saudi FM
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Faisal said the three-day meeting in New York supports the work of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, an initiative launched by Saudi Arabia, Norway, and the EU.
He added that the conference 'reflects the Kingdom's firm and longstanding position on the Palestinian cause,' and reaffirms its continued efforts to support 'the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.'
Held at the UN from July 28 to 30, the conference comes just days after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that France would officially recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September — potentially making it the first G7 nation to do so.
Prince Faisal said the event seeks to 'establish a just peace in the region,' enhance security, and 'halt the cycle of violence caused by the prolonged Israeli occupation.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
UK-EU migration progress welcome but more must be done
Two visits to London in consecutive weeks this month, first by French President Emmanuel Macron and then German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, were a clear demonstration that the UK and leading EU countries are absolutely determined to put the debacle of Brexit behind them and embark on a healing journey, one which will enable them to deal constructively with the common challenges and opportunities they encounter — and all in a cordial spirit. The visits and the agreements and understandings reached during the talks announced the return of the informal E3 group of France, Germany and the UK as the backbone and driving force of European security. All three leaders were keen to display unity, regardless of whether the UK is inside or outside the EU, stressing that it is important not to let the past hold back close UK-EU cooperation. One of the issues that dominated both visits, particularly Macron's, was of stopping, or at least substantially reducing, irregular migration, mainly the arrival of immigrants on small boats. According to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, about 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats last year. The first half of 2025 has seen an increasing number of people attempt this dangerous and costly journey, proving that the current deterrent measures hardly work. Tragically, the increase in the number of crossings also led to a record number of deaths — at least 82 people, including 14 children, in 2024. Migration is not a simple issue, not in terms of the reasons behind it, the legality of it or how it affects the countries of origin and destination. First, migration is a human trait — it has been part of humanity from the dawn of history and is done for economic, social, political and, increasingly, for environmental reasons. Without exploring and addressing these reasons, people will continue to look for routes to enter countries that promise them a safer and better life. Second, lumping together all the different types of migration muddles the public discourse. There are: economic migrants, which all European countries need; asylum seekers, who these countries have a moral and legal obligation to help; and those who are arriving for family reasons or to study. And, yes, there are those who arrive illegally. These are all different categories of migration that must be addressed according to their individual merits, while removing prejudices and biases against newcomers. Third, there is no escaping the fact that the discourse over migration has become toxic, divisive and fertile ground for right-wing parties and ultranationalist movements, which have no existence without it, and this endangers the stability of many societies and might lead to antimigration movements ascending to power. Lastly, it would be an illusion to believe that migration, especially the kind that most countries consider to be undermining their societies, can be stopped by legislation or by investing in better-equipped and more sophisticated border control forces without courageously investing in resolving the root causes. The 'one in, one out' migrant return deal agreed between the UK and France during Macron's visit is designed to serve as a deterrent to stop people from attempting to cross the Channel in small boats. The plan proposes that for each migrant the UK returns to France, another with a strong case for asylum in Britain will be allowed to come the other way. At this stage, it is unknown how many people will actually be sent away. And although those who are sent back to France will not be allowed to apply for asylum in the UK, one wonders how much of a deterrent this plan is. When more details surface, it will be possible to assess whether the number of migrants sent back justifies the cost and whether it can be scaled up when the pilot scheme comes to an end. But this does not, for instance, effectively deal with the smugglers who exploit the predicaments of those who are desperate enough to pay extortionate sums of money and risk their lives for a better future. Even going after the smugglers would not guarantee an end to small boat crossings, as it is too profitable a venture for more unscrupulous people not to take their place. A quick glance at the nationalities of those who attempted to reach the UK by boat between 2018 and 2024 reveals that 70 percent of them come from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania, Syria and Eritrea. Fighting criminal gangs is necessary, but can provide only limited answers, as there is a demand for their services, and even securing borders and international cooperation cannot seal them hermetically. The discourse over migration has become toxic, divisive and fertile ground for right-wing parties and ultranationalist movements. Yossi Mekelberg Instead, there is a need to go beyond international cooperation and stopping irregular migration when the migrants are already en route or sending them back when they arrive. First, there must be an integral migration policy that promotes safe and orderly pathways and that establishes legal migration channels that meet the need for migration and the demand for it. But above all, the challenge — and the current record of the international community is not encouraging — is to solve the underlying political, economic, social and environmental problems that lead people to try and escape their countries of origin, whether temporarily or permanently. As long as domestic political instability, including wars, violence, oppression and corruption, is rife and there are no employment opportunities or access to basic needs, people will look for an escape route. A growing issue linked to migration is the worsening impacts of climate change. And the collective global neglect of this existential threat to humanity is bound to lead to more people attempting to escape hostile climate conditions. Programs like 'one in, one out,' as much as they are a welcome, proactive and cooperative move to stop irregular migration by small boats, do not go far enough. Only a holistic approach that recognizes the need for migration in the EU, that meets the drive for migration of those who embark on such journeys, legally and illegally, and, most importantly and drastically, that results in a substantial improvement of conditions in migrants' countries of origin can provide a chance to regulate migration to the benefit of all.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
UK plans to recognize Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets conditions, Starmer says
LONDON: Britain will recognize the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the 'appalling situation' in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told cabinet on Tuesday according to a government statement. 'He said that the UK will recognize the state of Palestine in September, before UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a Two State Solution,' the statement said. 'He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain, that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarm.'
Saudi Gazette
13 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, calls for faster global recognition of Palestinian state
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Saudi Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, has expressed hope that the high-level international conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue — co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France — will contribute to accelerating global recognition of the State of Palestine and pave the way for implementing the two-state solution. In a session held Tuesday in Jeddah, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting regional security and stability, and its efforts to promote a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The Cabinet strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset's recent call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley, describing it as a direct threat to peace efforts and a violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. It reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's firm rejection of Israeli occupation policies and continued human rights violations. The ministers also reviewed the latest regional and international developments, stressing Saudi Arabia's ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the cycle of violence that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. The Cabinet welcomed the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize the State of Palestine, urging other nations to take similar steps that support peace and uphold the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. In the same session, the Cabinet was briefed on recent bilateral engagements between Saudi Arabia and various allied nations, aimed at deepening cooperation and strengthening mutual interests. The ministers also praised the outcomes of the Saudi delegation's visit to Syria, which resulted in the signing of 47 investment agreements worth approximately SR24 billion ($6.4 billion). The visit—directed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman—also led to the formation of a joint Saudi-Syrian business council to enhance private sector collaboration. Additionally, the Cabinet reviewed Saudi Arabia's participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, which highlighted the Kingdom's achievements under Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia was recognized as the fastest-advancing G20 nation in sustainable development indicators over the past decade. In the climate and innovation domain, the Cabinet discussed the recent launch of a pilot unit for Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology in Riyadh, as part of national efforts to pioneer scalable carbon management solutions and advance the Circular Carbon Economy in line with Saudi Arabia's environmental goals.
