Latest news with #peaceProcess
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Racism and Northern Ireland
Sir, – I have just returned home to Northern Ireland from a funeral in Dublin today of a dear friend of my wife who also passed away only a couple of weeks ago. I met some delightful young people who were appalled at the racial prejudice shown on our streets in the past week. They are aware of course of similar incidents in the Republic. I find that our future is in good hands with the positive attitude of these young people in rejecting racism in all its forms. I'm in my 80s and have witnessed Northern Ireland before the Troubles. READ MORE My wife and I raised three delightful children during those times and am now experiencing the aftermath of the peace process. The people who are being abused, as we know, are fleeing from hatred and violence to seek refuge in our beautiful country. We should be privileged with their choices. Unfortunately, our political leaders from both sides of our divide have shown poor leadership in confronting the events of the past week. I fully support the PSNI but they have not had their finest hour. Our leaders on both sides of the Border need to show solidarity in finding a resolution to this serious problem. – Yours, etc, GERRY MCQUILLAN, Saintfield, Co Down.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The world has one last chance to save the two-state solution
Ali Shihabi is a Saudi author and commentator and member of the advisory board of the new Saudi region of Neom planned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The world should wait no longer to formally recognize the State of Palestine. This is not about sentiment or symbolism. It is about urgent, necessary action to rescue a peace process on life support. Recognition is a critical diplomatic tool to shift a stagnant and increasingly dangerous status quo.
Arab News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
France's Macron praises Palestinian president's ‘genuine willingness' for peace
LONDON: France's President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday praised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' 'concrete and unprecedented commitments' after receiving a letter from the latter ahead of the UN-backed Saudi-French conference on a two-state solution in Palestine. In his letter on Monday, which was addressed to Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abbas outlined the main steps to be taken to end the war on Gaza. He called for the demilitarization of Hamas, the release of hostages, a ceasefire in Gaza and deployment of international forces to protect 'the Palestinian people,' while reaffirming his commitment to reforms and elections. Abbas also demanded an end to 'the occupation and conflict once and for all' and halting settler activities. In a post on X, Macron described the letter as 'a decisive moment, praising the Palestinian leader for charting 'a course toward a horizon of peace.' I received a letter of hope, courage, and clarity. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, charts a course toward a horizon of peace. A condemnation of terrorism, the release of hostages, the demilitarization of Hamas, an end to the war in Gaza,… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 12, 2025 'Concrete and unprecedented commitments that demonstrate a genuine willingness to move forward,' said Macron. France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York next week. The conference at the UN's headquarters aims to achieve concrete steps toward the two-state solution. In his letter, Abbas stressed the Palestinian Authority's commitment to presidential and general elections within a year across the Occupied Territories — including East Jerusalem — under international supervision. 'The Palestinian people are entitled to live in freedom and dignity in their homeland. Palestine and Israel are entitled to exist as states, in peace and security, in conformity with international law,' Abbas wrote in his letter. Reaffirming his commitment to the two-state solution, he said: 'We are ready to conclude within a clear and binding timeline, and with international support, supervision and guarantees, a peace agreement that ends the Israeli occupation and resolves all outstanding and final status issues.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two-state solution support hits all-time low as Israeli trust collapses
Only 21% of Israelis believe peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible; distrust and status of Jerusalem cited as top obstacles. Public support among Israelis for a two-state solution has reached a new low, with only 21% believing that a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian state is possible, according to a dramatic new poll by the Pew Research Center released on Tuesday. The survey, conducted between February 5 and March 11—during a temporary ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war—found a steep decline in optimism, down 14 percentage points from spring 2023 and the lowest level recorded since Pew began polling the question in 2013. Among Jewish Israelis, the results are even more stark: only 16% believe peaceful coexistence is achievable. In contrast, Arab Israelis are significantly more hopeful, with 40% expressing belief in a possible two-state future. The findings come as the war with Hamas enters its second year and reflect a broader erosion of faith in both peace efforts and political leadership—on both sides of the conflict. A dominant theme emerging from the data is a deep and widespread mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, which 75% of respondents identified as a 'major obstacle' to lasting peace. Following closely were the status of Jerusalem—claimed by both peoples as their capital—named by 70%, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank, cited by 52% of respondents. Despite decades of negotiation and international involvement, the survey reveals that these core issues remain unresolved in the minds of most Israelis. While a slim majority of Israelis (56%) believe the Israeli public remains committed to working toward lasting peace, only 41% say the same of the Palestinian people. Confidence in leadership is even lower: 47% view the Israeli government as at least somewhat committed to peace, while 45% say the same about the Palestinian Authority. Just 20% believe Hamas is in any way committed to a peaceful resolution—compared to 72% who say the Gaza-based group is not committed at all. Only one-third of Israelis now support the idea that Israel should govern the Gaza Strip after the war—a drop from 40% in spring 2024. Opinions diverge sharply along ethnic and ideological lines: 42% of Jewish Israelis support Israeli governance of Gaza, while 45% of Arab Israelis say Gaza's residents should choose their own leaders. Just 1% of Israelis say Hamas should rule Gaza in the future, and only 16% support a governance model based on the will of the people in Gaza. A unity government involving the Palestinian Authority garners little support—only 6% with President Mahmoud Abbas and 10% without him. United Nations administration was backed by a mere 2%. Despite growing skepticism toward international bodies, the United States remains a trusted actor in Israeli public opinion. A full 81% of respondents said the US plays a helpful role in the peace process. By contrast, Iran, the United Nations, and European countries are viewed as either irrelevant or harmful. Even so, when asked about US President Donald Trump—who began his second term in January—51% said he favors Israel too much in his foreign policy, while 42% believe he strikes the right balance. The poll also reveals a sharp lack of confidence in political leaders across the board. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face low favorability ratings, with 53% of Israelis viewing him unfavorably. Opposition leaders Benny Gantz (54% unfavorable) and Yair Lapid fare no better. On the Palestinian side, confidence is abysmal: 85% of Israelis view President Mahmoud Abbas unfavorably, and 80% say the same about Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader imprisoned by Israel since 2002. Sharp divides persist across religious and ideological lines. Secular and traditional Jews (Hilonim and Masortim) are more likely to believe Palestinians are committed to peace and to support international involvement. Religious and ultra-Orthodox Jews (Datiim and Haredim), meanwhile, are more likely to call for Israeli control over Gaza and view external actors with suspicion. Political ideology also shapes perceptions: Left-leaning Israelis are more optimistic about peace and more likely to cite settlements and Jerusalem as key obstacles, while right-wing Israelis place greater faith in the Israeli government's intentions and see distrust as the primary hurdle.
Free Malaysia Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Saudi FM says blocking of West Bank visit shows Israel's rejection of peace
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Arab states will continue to advocate for a two-state solution. (EPA Images pic) AMMAN : Israel's blocking of a visit by Arab diplomats to the occupied West Bank showed its 'rejection of… a diplomatic path to peace', Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said today. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, along with the Arab League chief, had planned a trip to the Palestinian territory, but Israel said Friday that it would not cooperate, effectively blocking the trip as it controls the area's borders and airspace. Speaking at a joint press conference in Amman with his Jordanian, Egyptian and Bahraini counterparts, Prince Faisal said Israel's move 'illustrates and confirms its extremism and its rejection of any serious attempt to engage in a diplomatic path toward peace… it is clear that they only want violence'. The minister said the Arab states would, however, continue to advocate for a two-state solution. 'If the war in Gaza has shown one thing, it is that military solutions are futile and will not bring security to either side. A political and definitive solution is needed,' he said. The delegation was expected to meet with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank. Had the visit gone ahead, the delegation's head, Prince Faisal, would have become the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the West Bank. 'In Gaza, it's a war of extermination. And in the West Bank, successive measures are clearly aimed at weakening the Palestinian Authority and, consequently, compromising the creation of a Palestinian state,' he added. Saudi Arabia was said to have been close to recognising Israel before the start of the Gaza war, and US President Donald Trump, during a recent visit to Riyadh, called normalisation between the countries 'my fervent hope and wish'. But de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly said Saudi Arabia will not recognise Israel without an independent Palestinian state. In June, Saudi Arabia and France are to co-chair an international conference at UN headquarters meant to resurrect the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The diplomatic chief said the ministers spoke to Abbas in a video call and discussed the ongoing efforts 'to obtain recognition of the Palestinian state by as many countries as possible and mobilise public opinion and international decision-makers to find a rapid end to the war in Gaza'. 'Once again, I emphasise: those who claim that the two-state solution is the only solution must also adopt positions that support this solution, notably by recognising the state of Palestine,' he added.
