UN conference calls for ‘effective two-state solution’ to end Israel-Palestinian conflict

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an ‘effective two-state solution’ to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He made the call in his opening speech at the international conference on a two-state solution that began at the UN. A three-day conference on a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel began at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday (July 28). France and Saudi Arabia are leading the conference. However, Israel and its main ally, the United States, have boycotted the conference. The 193-member UN General Assembly decided to hold the conference in September last year. The conference was supposed to be held in June this year, and France announced its plan to recognize Palestine as a state at the conference. But it was postponed due to the Israeli-US aggression in Iran. The conference began on Monday, almost a month later. Dozens of foreign ministers from UN member states attended the conference. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called for support for the security of the State of Israel as well as the goal of creating a roadmap for the establishment of a Palestinian state. In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We must ensure that this conference does not become another exercise in clever rhetoric. This conference can be a crucial turning point that can serve as a catalyst for realizing our shared aspiration for a viable two-state solution and ending the occupation.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, “We must find a way through which the end of the war in Gaza leads to an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Only a political, two-state solution can help realize the legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians. There is no alternative.’ In 1947, a proposal was made at the United Nations to partition Palestine. Later, it was decided to establish Israel for the Jews and Palestine for the Arabs. Accordingly, Israel was declared a state in 1948. For decades, most UN members have supported the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Out of the 193 UN member states, 142 have recognized Palestine as a state. France has also decided to recognize it amid the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. France hopes that the UK will join this list. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has also indicated that more European countries may recognize Palestine at the UN conference. This week, 221 UK lawmakers wrote to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanding recognition of Palestine. Starmer responded by saying that this recognition must be part of a larger plan. Analysts say the two-state solution has been on the brink of being a distant memory. But the UN conference will be revived after France’s announcement of recognition of Palestine. However, the 21-month-long Israeli offensive in Gaza, the establishment of new settlements in the occupied West Bank and the plan to annex the occupied territories to Israel have also raised concerns about whether a two-state solution will ultimately be geographically feasible.