Summit On Palestinian Statehood 'Planned For September'

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) International envoys will discuss a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at UN headquarters in New York this month, before national leaders meet in September, a French diplomatic source said yesterday.
A conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was planned for June to revive a diplomatic path for Israeli and Palestinian states to live side-by-side in peace. It was postponed at the last minute because of Israel's military campaign against Iran. Last week, diplomatic sources said the conference had been rescheduled for July 28-29, but did not say who would attend. The French source said this month's meeting would be at ministerial level. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot would attend, his office said.
It would seek to“advance the recognition of a Palestinian state for a certain number of states who have not yet recognised it, including France,” the source said. Heads of state and government would meet in either Paris or New York, before the UN General Assembly, which will be attended by world leaders on September 22, the source added.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron called for joint recognition of a Palestinian state by France and Britain.
Before the June conference was postponed, Barrot said France would not recognise a Palestinian state alone, in a possible reference to France's desire to see any recognition matched by some Gulf allies recognising Israel. US President Donald Trump during his first term promoted the“Abraham Accords” in which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco became the first Arab countries in decades to normalise with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has made clear that it cannot normalise with Israel until the Gaza war ends and progress is made toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

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