Latest news with #twoStateSolution
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France, co-chairs of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, joined with the chairs of the conference's working groups in issuing a joint statement on Tuesday expressing 'deep concern' over recent developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The statement said the latest escalation had 'necessitated the suspension' of the high-level conference, underscoring 'the validity of warnings about the fragility of the situation' and the urgent need to 'restore calm, respect international law, and strengthen diplomatic action.' Despite the setback, the group reaffirmed their 'full commitment to the conference's objectives' and pledged to 'ensure the continuity of its work and the achievement of its goals,' SPA added. They added that 'the co-chairs of the working groups will announce the date of the conference's roundtables soon,' with the aim of generating 'clear and coordinated international commitments' to advance the implementation of a two-state solution. 'In these critical circumstances,' the statement continued, 'we must redouble our efforts calling for respect for international law and the sovereignty of states, and to promote peace, freedom, and dignity for all peoples of the region.' The group also reiterated its 'unwavering support for all efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza' and called for a 'just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue,' affirming that regional stability and security hinge on a lasting peace.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Britain must take the lead and recognise Palestine now
Our government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside Israel now, and without further delay or equivocation. Recognition does not punish Israel. It offers hope to those in Palestine and Israel working for peaceful coexistence, mutual security and equal rights. The international court of justice has advised that Israel's military occupation of East Jerusalem, the rest of the West Bank and Gaza is unlawful, and must be ended. Yet ministers in the Netanyahu government seem determined to Balkanise the West Bank with more and more illegal settlements, along with destroying viable life for Palestinians in Gaza. Both designed, it seems, to make impossible the very two-state solution to which the world has long been committed: a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israeli one. Yet how else can there be a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike? This is no reward for terror. Rather, it reaffirms Israel's recognised right to 78% of what was the British mandate territory. The Palestinian people have the self-same right to determine their own future, free from occupation. It is fitting that the UK and France, which conspired together to carve up the Ottoman Levant through the infamous Sykes-Picot agreement, should now endorse that Palestinian right unconditionally. France, Belgium and like-minded Commonwealth partners such as Canada and Australia can emulate us – but Britain needs to give a lead. We ask our government to recognise Palestine now, for the common good of all in a region that needs peace and stability, not war, terror and mass starvation. Eluned Morgan MS First minister of WalesAndy Burnham Mayor, Greater ManchesterEmily Thornberry MP Chair, Commons foreign affairs select committeeAndy Slaughter MP Chair, Commons justice select committee
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer resists recognising Palestinian state as unions' demand deepens Labour split
Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will not agree to recognise a unilateral Palestine as a state, as a civil war over the issue threatens to erupt in his party. With tensions mounting in the Middle East, given the ongoing blockade of Gaza by Israel and the region on the brink of all-out war between Israel and Iran, Sir Keir made it clear that the UK government will not budge. The prime minister said: 'Our position on recognition of Palestine as part of the process hasn't changed for us. I hold very strongly to the belief that the only long-term solution to the conflict in the Middle East is a two-state solution. However hard that may seem at the moment in the current circumstances, that is the only way to peace. So that continues to be our position.' His comments came as the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Labour's biggest financial backer, issued a joint statement with its Canadian and French counterparts calling on the UK government to change its position. It makes three demands, including recognising Palestine's statehood. They are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and for the government to ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law. The statement said: 'We urge our governments to formally recognise the State of Palestine now and to stand firm in their opposition to the atrocities committed in Gaza and in the West Bank. 'We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel's assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. 'These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict. 'Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state. However, words must be matched by action. 'As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal – particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June. 'The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.' The text, seen by The Independent, comes as Sir Keir is in Canada meeting new PM Mark Carney for trade talks before attending the G7 summit where the Middle East crisis will be top of the agenda. It follows pressure from a number of senior Labour figures – including Commons foreign affairs chair Dame Emily Thornbury – for the UK to follow the example of Ireland, Spain and Norway last year to officially recognise Palestine as a state. Added pressure on the issue has even come from the Tories, with a group of Conservative MPs signing a letter from former minister Kit Malthouse demanding Palestine be recognised as a state. The Green Party and SNP have also long supported the policy. However, Jon Pearce, chair of the Labour Friends of Israel, which has a number of powerful cabinet allies, including the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, has pushed back against the growing demands in Labour for Palestinian recognition. He claims it would undermine Britain's position as an honest broker in the conflict. He told The Independent: 'Given the all-too-evident threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes, and its support for terrorism and proxy armies, not just to Israel and the region but to our own national security, it is vital that the UK maintains its diplomatic influence and credibility with our allies. 'Last year, Ireland, Spain and Norway unilaterally recognised a Palestinian state, but it changed nothing on the ground. If Britain were to follow this course, we would inevitably damage our reputation as an impartial broker and reduce our ability to have an impact.' He added: 'The Oslo accords state that any dispute must be resolved through direct negotiations. If Britain and our allies abandon our commitment to this core principle underpinning the accords, this will be a gift to those in Israel and the Palestinian Territories who have always opposed them and risk unleashing unbearable consequences for both Israelis and Palestinians. 'Recognition is a card that can only be played once. It must be done when it will have maximum impact.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer resists recognising unilateral Palestinian state as Labour split deepens
Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he will not agree to recognise a unilateral Palestine as a state, as a civil war over the issue threatens to erupt in his party. As tensions mount in the Middle East with the ongoing blockade of Gaza by Israel and the region on the brink of all-out war between Israel and Iran, Sir Keir made it clear that the UK government will not budge. The prime minister said: 'Our position on recognition of Palestine as part of the process hasn't changed for us. I hold very strongly to the belief that the only long-term solution to the conflict in the Middle East is a two-state solution. However hard that may seem at the moment in the current circumstances, that is the only way to peace. So that continues to be our position.' His comments came as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) - Labour's biggest financial backers - issued a joint statement with their Canadian and French counterparts calling on the UK government to change its position. It makes three demands, including recognising Palestine's statehood. They are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and the government to ensure the Israeli government meets its obligations under international humanitarian law. They said: 'We urge our governments to formally recognise the State of Palestine now and to stand firm in their opposition to the atrocities committed in Gaza and in the West Bank. 'We welcome the recent joint statement by our heads of state calling for an immediate halt to Israel's assault in Gaza and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. 'These are critical first steps toward alleviating the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict. 'Our governments rightly acknowledged that permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law, and we welcome their opposition to settlement expansion and the recognition that it is illegal and undermines the viability of a Palestinian state. However, words must be matched by action. 'As members of the G7, doing so would send a powerful signal —particularly in the lead-up to the UN conference co-chaired by France in mid-June. 'The time for decisive action is now. The need for justice, peace, and recognition has never been more urgent.' The text seen by The Independent comes as Sir Keir is in Canada meeting new PM Mark Carney for trade talks before attending the G7 summit where the Middle East crisis will be top of the agenda. It follows pressure from a number of senior Labour figures - including Commons foreign affairs chair Dame Emily Thornbury - for the UK to follow the example of Ireland, Spain and Norway last year to officially recognise Palestine as a state. Added pressure on the issue has even come from the Tories with a group of Conservative MPs signing a letter by former minister Kit Malthouse demanding Palestine be recognised as a state. The Green Party and SNP have also long supported the policy. However, Jon Pearce, chair of the Labour Friends of Israel, which has a number of powerful cabinet allies, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, has pushed back against the growing demands in Labour for Palestinian recognition. He claims it would undermine Britain's position as an honest broker in the conflict. He told The Independent: 'Given the all-too-evident threat posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes, and its support for terrorism and proxy armies, not just to Israel and the region but to our own national security, it is vital that the UK maintains its diplomatic influence and credibility with our allies. 'Last year, Ireland, Spain and Norway unilaterally recognised a Palestinian state, but it changed nothing on the ground. If Britain were to follow this course, we would inevitably damage our reputation as an impartial broker and reduce our ability to have an impact.' He added: 'The Oslo Accords state that any dispute must be resolved through direct negotiations. If Britain and our allies abandon our commitment to this core principle underpinning the accords, this will be a gift to those in Israel and the Palestinian Territories who have always opposed them and risk unleashing unbearable consequences for both Israelis and Palestinians. 'Recognition is a card that can only be played once. It must be done when it will have maximum impact.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
The Way to End the Israeli Palestinian Conflict
This conflict cannot be resolved with a two-state solution. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed this point recently, warning the Security Council that hope for a two-state solution may dissipate entirely. This conflict cannot be settled through perpetual war and the firepower of the Israeli occupation that is seeking endless annexation, gulping up more and more land through the expansion of settlements. For decades, those of us who follow Palestinian have been asking when this conflict will come to an end? This question seems to be on United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis's mind. He recently said that the conflict would not end until the Israelis and Palestinians are able to live side by side in their two sovereign and independent states, in peace, security, and dignity. It is time, then, to put an end to Israel's effort to change the demography of Palestinian territories. Indeed, it has been seven decades since the UN General Assembly first called for a two-state solution, and the world's commitment to this goal has been reaffirmed by numerous UN Resolutions. The pioneering role that Saudi diplomacy has played in this regard stands out. Saudi Arabia has long insisted that the first step to regional peace is recognizing an independent Palestinian state. This is not a symbolic concession but a strategic necessity that requires actions, not words, to ensure that our shared principles are practiced. One could ask: What if Israel had accepted the Arab Peace Initiative back in 2002? How would the course of the past two decades in the Middle East have been different if Israel had? On the French front, President Emmanuel Macron considers the recognition of Palestine both an ethical duty and a political demand. Paris has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the two-state solution. It also insists that there is no other viable path to peace. It seems that Paris believes this is the right time to build an international coalition that sets a concrete roadmap for arriving at a two-state solution. France, the beating heart of European politics, believes the moment has arrived. It is pursuing three key tracks to move closer to an independent Palestinian state: One: Ending the war in Gaza, ensuring the unconditional release of all hostages, and allowing the people of Gaza full access to aid. Two: Push political solutions to the forefront, above the alternatives that experience and common sense tell us are futile. Three: Ending settlement expansion, settler violence, and the campaign to weaken the Palestinian Authority. A close and thorough examination of the Palestinian question shows that we cannot kick the can down the road indefinitely. It is among the oldest items on the United Nations' agenda, and it has real implications for global peace and security. Anyone sensible can understand that Palestinian land, with its history, sanctity, and religious significance, is above ideological disputes and relative political conflicts. Its repercussions are felt in all four four corners of the earth. Accordingly, establishing a Palestinian state is crucial for regional stability, and its positive impact would extend far beyond the Middle East. It would potentially reinforce peace around the globe, and failing to establish it would undermine peace everywhere. It also has major implications for the consolidation of development and human rights, as failing the Palestine people has long been fueling a tragic cycle of resentment and violence across the globe. Every person with a sound conscience finds the status quo in Palestine intolerable: the occupation is deepening its roots and crushing of the land's indigenous inhabitants through crimes that violate holy and secular laws. A different path must be pursued. Peace must be achieved and the conflict must end. A timescale must be set for a solution that is founded on international law, human rights, the United Nations Charter, and the shared interests of all the region's inhabitants. There are no stop-gap solutions or alternatives to a negotiated two-state settlement that gives rise to a viable, independent Palestinian state. However, Guterres's words have been blowing in the wind of global diplomacy. We are at a historic crossroads- a juncture that will test the world's conscience. Will it wake up after its long slumber?
