New York: Europe and the Arabs
France and Saudi Arabia are preparing to hold a summit in New York on Monday, with the participation of dozens of world leaders, to mobilize support for the two-state solution. New announcements are expected to recognize a Palestinian state, amid strong opposition from the United States and Israel.
Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal officially recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, joining nearly 150 countries that have already done so. France is expected to follow suit at the General Assembly this week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "There will be no Palestinian state, and the final response to the imposition of a terrorist state in the heart of our country will be given after I return from the United States." His comments came after Britain, Canada, and Australia announced their recognition of the Palestinian state. According to the European news network in Brussels, "Euronews," it added under the headline: "US-Israeli opposition," saying, "
However, efforts to advance the two-state solution face significant obstacles, starting with strong opposition from the United States and Israel. The United States barred Palestinian officials from attending the General Assembly, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, threatened to take unilateral action in response, which could include annexing parts of the West Bank.
Last July, US President Donald Trump sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of his intention to recognize a Palestinian state, describing it as "worthless."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also considered the intentions of several countries to recognize the State of Palestine "complicating efforts to reach a peaceful settlement," considering these steps "mostly symbolic gestures linked to the domestic politics of these countries."
US Support for Annexation of the West Bank
The Hebrew channel "i24 News" quoted a political source as saying that Rubio had given the green light to impose sovereignty in the West Bank.
The channel noted that Netanyahu is hesitant about how to proceed, and is expected to make a decision after his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York and after his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The channel added that the available options are full or partial recognition. Under the title "No Peace Without a Two-State Solution," the same source added, "UN Secretary-General António Guterres said last week: 'Israel must understand that a one-state solution, with the subjugation of the Palestinian people without rights, is absolutely intolerable.' Without a two-state solution, there will be no peace in the Middle East."
According to the Associated Press, the Netanyahu government and most of the Israeli political class opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state even before the war. The Trump administration has shown no interest in reviving peace talks, instead calling for the transfer of a large portion of Gaza's population to other countries, a plan that Israel has enthusiastically embraced even as critics have described it as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
The French-Saudi Plan
France and Saudi Arabia have put forward a phased plan to end the conflict by establishing a demilitarized state governed by the Palestinian Authority with international assistance.
The plan calls for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, the return of all prisoners, and a full Israeli withdrawal. Hamas would hand over power to a politically independent committee under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority—something it has already agreed to—and give up its weapons, which it has not done.
The international community would assist the Palestinian Authority. The plan focuses on rebuilding Gaza and governing the Palestinian territories, possibly with the help of foreign peacekeepers. This would be followed by peace and regional integration, likely including Saudi normalization of relations with Israel.
The 193-member world body approved a non-binding resolution endorsing the so-called "New York Declaration" earlier this month.
Other Obstacles
According to the Associated Press, the French-Saudi plan ignores the most divisive issues in the conflict: final borders, the fate of settlements, the return of Palestinian refugees from previous wars, security arrangements, the status of Jerusalem, and recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
It also relies heavily on the Palestinian Authority, whose current leadership is unpopular with many Palestinians who view it as corrupt and authoritarian.
Israel says it is not fully committed to peace and accuses the Palestinian Authority of incitement despite recent reforms.
The plan, according to the agency, calls for Palestinian elections within a year, but President Mahmoud Abbas postponed the previous vote when it appeared his party would lose, blaming Israeli restrictions. Hamas, which won the last national election in 2017, would be excluded. 2006, unless it surrenders its weapons and recognizes Israel.