黑料社区

DUBAI: In a landmark vote on Friday, 142 nations backed a Saudi-French declaration at the UN General Assembly calling for an independent Palestinian state, signaling that Riyadh鈥檚 diplomatic push is mobilizing unprecedented global consensus for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict.

The vote to adopt the 鈥淣ew York Declaration,鈥� which calls for a two-state solution without Hamas involvement, is the latest step in mounting international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 64,000 people, according to local health officials, injured tens of thousands, and created famine conditions amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the UN General Assembly鈥檚 adoption of the declaration shows that the international community is 鈥渃harting an irreversible path towards peace in the Middle East.鈥�

鈥淎nother future is possible. Two peoples, two states: Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,鈥� he wrote in a post on X on Friday.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption of the declaration and said it 鈥渃onfirms the international consensus on moving forward toward a peaceful future in which the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.鈥�

The 鈥淣ew York Declaration,鈥� the outcome of an international conference organized by 黑料社区 and France in July at UN headquarters, called for a Gaza ceasefire, the release of all hostages, Hamas鈥� disarmament and the transfer of its weapons to the Palestinian Authority under international supervision, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

It also addressed normalization between Israel and the Arab countries and proposed the deployment of a 鈥渢emporary international stabilization mission鈥� to Palestine, under the mandate of the UN Security Council, to support the Palestinian civilian population and the transfer of security responsibilities to the PA.

The vote now paves the way for a one-day UN conference on the two-state solution, co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris on Sept. 22, where a number of states including France, the UK, Canada, Belgium, and Australia promised to formally recognize the state of Palestine.

Formally known as 鈥淭he New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,鈥� the resolution passed on Friday with overwhelming support, with 142 countries voting in favor. Only 10, including Israel and its key ally the US, voted against, while 12 nations abstained.

The declaration, which embodied 黑料社区鈥檚 intensifying global efforts to push for a Palestinian state, was already endorsed by the Arab League and co-signed in July by 17 UN member states, including several Arab countries.

Friday鈥檚 outcome was condemned by the US and Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein denounced the declaration鈥檚 adoption as 鈥渄isgraceful,鈥� saying his country 鈥渦tterly rejects鈥� it and calling the UN General Assembly 鈥渁 political circus detached from reality.鈥�

Similarly, Morgan Ortagus, US deputy special envoy to the Middle East, condemned the UNGA鈥檚 action as 鈥渁nother misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt鈥� that rewards Hamas and undermines diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza. She added that disarming Hamas and releasing hostages is the key to ending the war.

Hamas has said it will not agree to disarm unless a sovereign Palestinian state is established.

The growing calls for Palestinian statehood come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to escalate the conflict. On Tuesday, he authorized airstrikes on Hamas targets in Qatar during a meeting weighing a US ceasefire proposal 鈥� a move which was widely condemned in the Middle East and beyond for undermining peace efforts and violating Qatar鈥檚 sovereignty.

Under his command, Israel has been pressing ahead with a major military offensive in Gaza City despite international outrage. On Thursday, a day before the UN vote, he vowed 鈥渢here will be no Palestinian state鈥� as he signed an agreement to push ahead with the controversial E1 settlement expansion plan that will split the West Bank, further undermining the potential for a Palestinian state.

Analysts warned that while the UN鈥檚 adoption of the declaration may not bring immediate changes on the ground without concrete international action, it underscores a strategic diplomatic defeat for Israel, even as it claims military victories.

Hani Nasira, an Egyptian writer, academic and political expert, believes the overwhelming backing for the declaration reflects the intensifying international rejection of the practices of Netanyahu鈥檚 right-wing government, along with the growing embarrassment this causes for the US as his key ally.

鈥淚srael has lost its international image and opposition to Netanyahu鈥檚 government has increased both globally and at home. Those who support it now find themselves in deep embarrassment,鈥� Nasira told Arab News.

He said Netanyahu鈥檚 decision to persist appears unsustainable for Israeli citizens, the region and the world at large.

鈥淭he concern today is not only for Palestine, but the threat has spread to Gulf security. The latest attacks have undermined Qatar鈥檚 role as mediator and shaken Washington鈥檚 image as a reliable ally,鈥� said Nasira, warning that Israel鈥檚 actions are destabilizing the region.

While Palestinian statehood is viewed as the solution, the prospect remains out of immediate reach.

Nasira said Israel鈥檚 continued aggression in the region, provocative rhetoric including Netanyahu鈥檚 vision of a 鈥淕reater Israel,鈥� and the deep internal divisions among Palestinian factions pose a serious challenge to the peace plan.

He warned that the region is at a 鈥渢urning point鈥� that requires exploring realistic alternatives 鈥渨ithout being dragged onto Netanyahu鈥檚 extremism that threatens not only the peace process but the entire region.鈥�

If anything, Nasira said, Israel鈥檚 violations in Gaza highlight the need for a multipolar world order, rather than one dominated by the US, particularly under Donald Trump鈥檚 second presidency.

Israel鈥檚 major diplomatic defeat at the UN General Assembly mirrored a sharp shift in tone from several European nations toward its conduct in Gaza and the occupied territories.

Five European countries, including Spain, The Netherlands, and Ireland, have now banned all imports from illegal Israeli settlements, while EU institutions are calling for the suspension of trade portions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and are considering sanctions.

Slovenia, Germany and Spain have begun imposing arms embargo on Israel. The groundswell of support for recognition of Palestine is also seen as a means of increasing pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, which was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.

Nasira said the landmark vote also reflects 黑料社区鈥檚 growing diplomatic influence, both regionally and internationally, especially in relation to the Palestinian cause.

鈥満诹仙缜�鈥檚 influence draws on its global stature, economic clout, Islamic symbolism, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman鈥檚 prominence on the world stage, and a track record of the Kingdom鈥檚 balanced, effective diplomacy that resonates regionally and internationally,鈥� Nasira told Arab News.

The Kingdom鈥檚 diplomatic efforts have been hailed by observers and analysts for reviving global momentum behind the two-state solution after years of diminished focus before the war in Gaza.

The momentum built on the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative, adopted at the 2002 Arab League summit in Beirut, which proposed normalization between Arab states and Israel in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories 鈥� including the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights 鈥� the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue.

The 鈥淣ew York Declaration鈥� was seen as bringing global consensus around that initiative, effectively positioning it as the foundation for renewed international dialogue on the two-state solution.

Since the Gaza war broke out, the Kingdom has led an international push to secure a ceasefire and lay the groundwork for lasting, sustainable peace in Palestine.

Over the past two years, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal has championed the Kingdom鈥檚 diplomatic commitment by sponsoring international conferences, building broad alliances with partner nations, and providing critical funding for food and medical supplies to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

In September 2024, Prince Faisal announced the formation of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, mobilizing 90 states with aims to end the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Kingdom held follow-up meetings in Riyadh, Brussels and Oslo in the following months focusing on concrete action points identified by the participants.

That same month, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ruled out a Saudi normalization deal with Israel without an 鈥渋ndependent Palestinian state.鈥�

These diplomatic efforts culminated in the Saudi-French UN conference in July, which sought to establish a clear political framework beyond vocal advocacy to end the Gaza war and press for recognition of a Palestinian state in line with UN resolutions.

The success of this initiative was highlighted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his Wednesday address before the Saudi Shoura Council, where he said 鈥渢he international conference on implementing the two-state solution, held in New York, achieved unprecedented mobilization and reinforced global consensus鈥� on the Arab Peace Initiative.

He said the Kingdom鈥檚 efforts have borne fruit in driving more countries to recognize Palestine and garnered increased international support for implementing a two-state solution, calling on other countries to follow suit.

Condemning Israel鈥檚 鈥渃rimes of starvation and forced displacement鈥� in Gaza, he reiterated the Kingdom鈥檚 stance that 鈥渢he land of Gaza is Palestinian, and the rights of its people are steadfast, not to be taken away by aggression or nullified by threats,鈥� while emphasizing an unwavering support for Qatar following the Israeli attacks.

Now the region awaits the results of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit, hosted by Qatar on Sunday, to discuss a collective response to the Israeli attack on Doha.