Prince
Faisal made his remarks during the opening of the high-level international
conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the
two-state solution at the United Nations in New York on Monday.
Co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, the conference marks a
pivotal step toward advancing concrete international action to implement the
two-state solution and end the decades-long conflict.
“The Kingdom believes that the two-state solution is the key
to stability in the region,” Prince Faisal said in his opening remarks, adding
that the New York conference represents a critical turning point toward its
implementation.
He stressed that achieving regional stability begins by
granting the Palestinian people their legitimate rights, and welcomed French
President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pledge to recognize the State of Palestine.
Prince Faisal also called for an immediate end to the
humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and announced that Saudi Arabia and France
have facilitated the transfer of US$300 million from the World Bank to support
Palestinians.
He reiterated that the Arab Peace Initiative remains the
foundation for any comprehensive and just resolution, while also emphasizing
the importance of supporting the International Coalition for the Two-State
Solution.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed the urgency
of action, condemning the ongoing targeting of civilians in Gaza. “This war has
gone on far too long and must end,” he said.
Barrot urged the international community to make the two-state
solution a tangible reality, describing the conference as a “turning point”
that has generated “unstoppable momentum toward a political resolution in the
Middle East.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres thanked
Saudi Arabia and France for organizing the conference, describing it as “a
unique opportunity to seize the current momentum.”
Guterres emphasized that the conflict can be ended with real
political will, and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to the two-state solution.
He also condemned the illegal annexation of the West Bank,
stating that all actions undermining a two-state solution must stop.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa described the
two-state solution as a historic opportunity for all, and expressed deep
gratitude to Saudi Arabia and France for spearheading the conference.
He stressed that the conference sends a clear message to
Palestinians that the world stands with them. Mustafa also called for
Palestinian unity and urged Hamas to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian
Authority.
He proposed the deployment of international forces —
coordinated with the PA — to protect civilians, adding, “We are ready to
fulfill all our obligations in Gaza. Peace is the only way forward.”
The New York conference aims to lay the groundwork for an
end to Israeli violations in the occupied territories and revive international
consensus on the two-state framework as a path to lasting peace and regional
security.
