The UN hosts today a international conference, initiated by France and Saudi Arabia, on ways to move toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. But, the effort is boycotted by the U.S. and Israel.
The conference aims at tracing a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel’s security. That is why, a historic announcement is expected as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told newspaper La Tribune Dimanche in an interview published on Sunday that the participating Arab countries will for the first time condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament – a move meant to convince more European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood.
In an exclusive interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot said the move was part of a long-planned initiative between France and Saudi Arabia.
“For the first time, Arab countries will condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament, which will seal its definitive isolation. European countries will in turn confirm their intention to recognize the State of Palestine. Half of European countries have done so, all others are considering it,” Barrot told the JDD.
The French minister also said he was informed that the British Prime Minister has stated his intention to do so, also Germany is considering it at a later stage.
“We will launch an appeal in New York for other countries to join us in order to set in motion an even more ambitious and demanding process that will culminate on September 21,” Barrot added. Notably, at the end of last week, a German government spokesperson said there were no plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would formally recognize the state of Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly on September 21, drawing immediate condemnation from the U.S. and Israel.
Also, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni called it counterproductive to recognise a Palestinian state before it is established.
France and Saudi Arabia plan to lay out a proposed post-war roadmap leading to a two-state solution covering security, reconstruction and governance, which will be compatible with the Abraham Accords.
The French minister added that in coming weeks the European Commission would take a tougher stance on Israel and demand a stop on building of any new settlement projects in the West Bank, and also an end to militarized policing of humanitarian aid distribution.
Barrot also called on European countries to demand a removal of the financial blockade on the Palestinian authority so it can receive 2 billion euros he said it is owed.
France plans on using the New York conference to push other countries to join Paris in recognizing a Palestinian state.
“We will launch an appeal in New York so that other countries join us to initiate an even more ambitious and demanding dynamic that will culminate on September 21,” Barrot said.
The conference comes as a 22-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza still rages. The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
The U.S. will not attend the conference at the United Nations, said a State Department spokesperson, describing it as “a gift to Hamas, which continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel that would lead to the release of hostages and bring calm in Gaza.”
The U.N. has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war with neighboring Arab states. The U.N. General Assembly in May last year overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending the U.N. Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.”
The resolution garnered 143 votes in favor and nine against and this GA vote was seen as a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member and recognition as a state.
Carmen Gavrila is a senior editor, former diplomatic correspondent and formeer war correspondent for the Romanian Public Radio, Radio Romania News channel, focusing on the Middle East.
GSPI does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of GSPI, its staff, or its trustees.
