Madrid Group Meets to Push for Two-State Solution
Spain's capital hosted a high-level meeting on Sunday that brought together Arab and European foreign ministers in a renewed push to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The summit, convened under the so-called 'Madrid Group,' aimed to pressure Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to the besieged enclave, and revive efforts toward the long-stalled two-state solution.
Countries attending the conference included Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Also taking part was the State of Palestine, which Spain formally recognized last year, a move other European countries, including France, are expected to follow as early as next month.
The meeting also gathered foreign ministers from major European nations such as Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Slovenia, and Malta. Brazil's foreign minister attended as well, saying upon arrival in Madrid that he was carrying a message from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in support of efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
On his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez intensified diplomatic efforts in recent weeks ahead of Sunday's landmark meeting in Madrid, which for the first time brings together major European and Islamic countries under the 'Madrid Group' umbrella to deliver a strong message of support for a two-state solution and increase pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu and members of his government have lashed out at European leaders in recent days, accusing them of inciting violence against Jews following the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington last week. France condemned Netanyahu's comments as 'outrageous.'
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Madrid on Saturday to take part in the expanded ministerial gathering on Gaza and the Madrid Group's wider efforts to address the situation in the Palestinian territories and push for an international ceasefire.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the talks will focus on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, international efforts to end the war, and the urgent need to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The meeting will also discuss preparations for a high-level international conference on the two-state solution, scheduled to take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York next month, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, it added.
Earlier, the ministry said the ministerial committee formed by the Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza - headed by Prince Faisal and including Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi - met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to discuss global efforts to halt the Israeli military campaign.
Abdelatty traveled to Madrid on Sunday to join the expanded ministerial meeting. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that discussions will cover international efforts to end the war in Gaza, the deepening humanitarian crisis, and ways to ensure access for humanitarian aid.
The talks will also explore building global support for recognizing Palestinian statehood and implementing the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace in the Middle East.
Sources familiar with the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat that Madrid, in parallel with its diplomatic push, is seeking to deliver humanitarian and food aid to Gaza by air or by establishing an 'EU-supervised humanitarian camp' in Rafah on the Egyptian border, proposals that continue to face resistance from Israel.
Spain, which officially recognized the State of Palestine last year, is also working to submit a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling on the International Court of Justice to mandate Israel to allow unrestricted aid entry into Gaza.
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