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TimesLIVE
30-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians
Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the UN to support a declaration that outlines 'tangible, timebound and irreversible steps' towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians. The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the UN this week, hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, on the decades-long conflict. The US and Israel boycotted the event. 'We call on you to support the document before the end of the 79th session of the general assembly by contacting the missions of Saudi Arabia and France in New York,' Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference on Tuesday. The 80th UN general assembly is due to start in September. The first step outlined in the declaration is to end the 22-month war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 'After the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be immediately established to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority,' it reads. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation. The declaration supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission, mandated by the UN security council, and welcomes 'the readiness expressed by some member states to contribute troops'. It calls on Israel's leadership to 'issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian state', to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians and to halt all settlement, land grabs and annexation activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The declaration commits to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and those who support illegal settlements, and adopting targeted measures 'against entities and individuals acting against the principle of the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, through violence or acts of terrorism and in breach of international law'. It also describes regional integration and independent Palestinian statehood as 'intertwined objectives'. The document states: 'Only by ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, ending occupation, rejecting violence and terror, realising an independent, sovereign and democratic Palestinian state, ending the occupation of all Arab territories and providing solid security guarantees for Israel and Palestine can normal relations and coexistence among the region's peoples and states be achieved.'
Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UN conference backs two-state solution, calls on Israel to commit to a Palestinian state
High-level representatives at a UN conference on Tuesday urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave 'unwavering support' to a two-state solution, signaling widespread international determination to end one of the world's longest conflicts. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, (L) and French foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, (C) chair a conference on Palestine and a two-state solution at the UN on July 29, 2025 in New York City.(Getty Images via AFP) The 'New York Declaration' sets out a phased plan to end the nearly eight-decade conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza. The plan would culminate with an independent, demilitarized Palestine living side by side peacefully with Israel, and the nation's eventual integration into the wider Mideast region. The two-day meeting, which ends Tuesday, is taking place amid the latest reports that starvation and famine are taking place in Gaza, and growing global outrage at Palestinians not getting food due to Israeli policies and practices – which Israel denies. Israel rejects the notion of two states Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution and has rejected the meeting on both nationalistic and security grounds. Its close ally, the United States, is also boycotting, calling the meeting 'unproductive and ill-timed.' The conference, which was postponed from June and downgraded from world leaders to ministers, for the first time established eight high-level working groups to examine and make proposals on wide-ranging topics related to a two-state solution. The declaration's plan says conference co-chairs France and Saudi Arabia, the European Union and Arab League, and 15 countries that led the working groups agreed 'to take collective action to end the war in Gaza.' Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged the rest of the 193 UN member nations 'to support this document' before the start of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in mid-September. The declaration condemns 'the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians' in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. It marks a first condemnation by Arab nations of Hamas, whose attacks killed about 1,200, mainly Israeli civilians, and whose militants took about 250 people hostage. Some 50 are still being held. The declaration condemns Israeli attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza and its 'siege and starvation, which have produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis.' Israel's ongoing offensive against Hamas has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Plan would give Palestinian Authority governing power The conference plan envisions the Palestinian Authority governing and controlling all Palestinian territory, with a transitional administrative committee immediately established under its umbrella after a ceasefire in Gaza. It also supports deployment of 'a temporary international stabilization mission' operating under UN auspices to protect Palestinian civilians, support the transfer of security to the Palestinian Authority and provide security guarantees for Palestine and Israel — 'including monitoring of the ceasefire and of a future peace agreement.' The declaration calls for countries to recognize the state of Palestine, calling this 'an essential and indispensable component of the achievement of the two-state solution.' Without naming Israel but clearly referring to it, the document says 'illegal unilateral actions are posing an existential threat to the realization of the independent state of Palestine.' French President Emmanuel Macron announced ahead of the meeting that his country will recognize the state of Palestine at the General Assembly's meeting of world leaders in late September. The French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday pushed back on Israeli claims that recognition of Palestine would 'reward' Hamas, saying that 'on the contrary, it has contributed to isolating Hamas.' United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that Britain would recognize the state of Palestine ahead of September's high-level meeting, but would refrain if Israel agrees to a ceasefire and long-term peace process in the next eight weeks. The countries are now the biggest Western powers and the only two members of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations to make such a pledge.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution between Israel, Palestinians
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution between Israel, Palestinians By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the United Nations to support a declaration that outlines "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the U.N. this week - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event. "We call on you to support this document before the end of the 79th session of the General Assembly by contacting the missions of Saudi Arabia and France in New York," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference on Tuesday. The 80th U.N. General Assembly is due to start in September. The first step outlined in the declaration is to end the 22-month war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "Following the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be immediately established to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority," it reads. The Palestinian Authority currently exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation. The declaration supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission, mandated by the U.N. Security Council, and welcomes "the readiness expressed by some member states to contribute troops." It calls on Israel's leadership to "issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian State," to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, and to halt all settlement, land grabs, and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. The declaration commits to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and those who support illegal settlements, and adopting targeted measures "against entities and individuals acting against the principle of the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, through violence or acts of terrorism, and in breach of international law." It also describes regional integration and independent Palestinian statehood as "intertwined objectives." "Only by ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, ending occupation, rejecting violence and terror, realizing an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian State, ending the occupation of all Arab territories and providing solid security guarantees for Israel and Palestine, can normal relations and coexistence among the region's peoples and States be achieved," it reads. Solve the daily Crossword
Reuters
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution between Israel, Palestinians
UNITED NATIONS, July 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the United Nations to support a declaration that outlines "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the U.N. this week - hosted by Saudi Arabia and France - on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event. "We call on you to support this document before the end of the 79th session of the General Assembly by contacting the missions of Saudi Arabia and France in New York," Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told the conference on Tuesday. The 80th U.N. General Assembly is due to start in September. The first step outlined in the declaration is to end the 22-month war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "Following the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be immediately established to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority," it reads. The Palestinian Authority currently exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation. The declaration supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission, mandated by the U.N. Security Council, and welcomes "the readiness expressed by some member states to contribute troops." It calls on Israel's leadership to "issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian State," to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, and to halt all settlement, land grabs, and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. The declaration commits to adopting restrictive measures against violent extremist settlers and those who support illegal settlements, and adopting targeted measures "against entities and individuals acting against the principle of the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, through violence or acts of terrorism, and in breach of international law." It also describes regional integration and independent Palestinian statehood as "intertwined objectives." "Only by ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, ending occupation, rejecting violence and terror, realizing an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian State, ending the occupation of all Arab territories and providing solid security guarantees for Israel and Palestine, can normal relations and coexistence among the region's peoples and States be achieved," it reads.
Business Recorder
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
US, Israel boycott: UN meets to urge support for two-state solution
UNITED NATIONS: Dozens of ministers gathered at a United Nations conference on Monday to urge that the world work toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, but the US and Israel boycotted the event. The 193-member UN General Assembly decided in September last year that such a conference would be held in 2025. Hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference was postponed in June after Israel attacked Iran. Addressing the conference, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud urged all countries support the conference goal of a roadmap laying out the parameters to a Palestinian state while ensuring Israel's security. 'We must ensure that it does not become another exercise in well-meaning rhetoric,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in opening remarks. 'It can and must serve as a decisive turning point - one that catalyzes irreversible progress towards ending the occupation and realizing our shared aspiration for a viable two-state solution.' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the conference: 'We must work on the ways and means to go from the end of the war in Gaza to the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at a time when this war is jeopardizing the stability and security of the entire region.' Barrot told newspaper La Tribune Dimanche in an interview published on Sunday that he will use the conference this week to push other countries to join France in recognizing a Palestinian state. France intends to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said last week. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa - an official with the Palestinian Authority which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation - called on all countries to 'recognize the state of Palestine without delay,' adding: 'The path to peace starts with recognizing the state of Palestine and preserving it from destruction.' 'The rights of all peoples must be respected, the sovereignty of all states must be ensured. Palestine, and its people can no longer be the exception,' he told the conference. The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza still rages after nearly 22 months. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. The US will not attend the conference at the United Nations, said a State Department spokesperson, describing it as 'a gift to Hamas, which continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel that would lead to the release of hostages and bring calm in Gaza.' The State Department spokesperson added that Washington voted against the General Assembly last year calling for the conference and would 'not support actions that jeopardize the prospect for a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict.' Israel is also not taking part in the conference. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said on Monday: 'This conference does not promote a solution, but rather deepens the illusion. Instead of demanding the release of the hostages and working to dismantle Hamas's reign of terror, the conference organizers are engaging in discussions and plenaries that are disconnected from reality.' The UN has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war with neighbouring Arab states.
