U.N. to vote today on resolution concerning outcomes of international conference on the two-state solution

The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Friday on a draft resolution submitted by France and Britain and sponsored by dozens of other countries to endorse the outcomes of the “High‑Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Two‑State Solution,” which will culminate in a summit‑level meeting on September 22 as part of the 80th annual session of the General Assembly in New York.

Paris is well aware of the “vast chasm” between the summit’s goals and the realities on the ground, whether in Gaza, where the Israeli government continues a war with no clear end in sight amid calls to repopulate the Strip, or in the West Bank, where voices calling for annexation of it or parts of it are growing louder.

France senses the openly declared Israeli – American hostility toward the expected summit; on one hand, Israel is threatening France and other countries that have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state on the occasion of the New York summit, which will be chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, with measures that would affect their interests or with “revenge” in the form of further pressure on Palestinians or accelerating annexation.

From the American side, Washington, through various forms of pressure, is working to discourage participating countries by urging them not to follow France’s lead and not to recognize a Palestinian state. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the birth of a Palestinian state “cannot happen this way,” meaning through recognition, which he described as a “gift” to Hamas.

It was reported in Paris that during a call between French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron raised the matter of Washington’s refusal to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation headed by Mahmoud Abbas that would enable it to participate in the summit, and the White House replied that this was not its responsibility but that of the Secretary of State.

The New York summit will be held in the absence of U.S. and Israeli participation, but with the attendance of a large number of world leaders.

The two‑state solution: the only proposed peace plan

Despite the array of obstacles confronting the summit, France and many other countries still view the two‑state solution as the only feasible way to end the cycle of violence that has gripped the region for decades and to resolve the Palestinian‑Israeli conflict.

French sources said what amplifies the initiative’s importance is that it is “the only political initiative” currently under discussion, while other initiatives have either stalled or faded, including the initiative launched by Trump with the “Abraham Accords.” The sources said Paris wants to place its joint initiative with Saudi Arabia in the context of the goals Trump sought to achieve — namely a regional peace through the two‑state solution rather than by ignoring the conflict.

Paris notes that the “road map” for a two‑state solution, which eight groups worked on for six months and which was presented at the New York meeting on July 28–29, has secured 90 endorsements and will be put to a vote on Friday at the General Assembly. It is expected to receive an overwhelming majority and then become an official United Nations document.

Paris remains subject to criticism from those who adopt the Israeli narrative regarding recognition, and a presidential source was keen to refute that narrative by pointing out that the Palestinian state to be recognized “will not have a role for Hamas,” a point stipulated in the final statement issued after the July meeting.

Political dynamics

Paris believes the “road map” provides a way to address all aspects of the conflict, including the war in Gaza, by accelerating agreement on a ceasefire that would stop the fighting, secure the release of hostages, allow aid to reach the Strip, and address the “day after” question of how to maintain security and administer the territory.

In this regard, Paris points to the road map’s provisions for creating a force or body tasked with ensuring stability. The plan’s importance, according to Paris, is that it defines the political framework within which the process of recognizing a Palestinian state would take place.

France welcomes the fact that President Macron’s initiative to recognize a Palestinian state has been followed by many Western countries, including G7 members such as Britain and Canada, as well as other countries like Portugal, Belgium, Australia, Luxembourg and Malta, while other Asian states have shown “interest” in recognition, including Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore.

According to the French assessment, developments indicate that the “political momentum” Paris sought is present and effective. Macron will officially announce France’s recognition of the Palestinian state from the UN podium on the day of the summit.