France and Britain not likely to recognize Palestinian state

According to the sources, France and Britain will abandon plans to recognize a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference in New York to be held between June 17 and 20. France had been lobbying the UK and other European allies to recognize a Palestinian state at the conference.

President Emmanuel Macron had described the move as “a moral duty and political requirement”, suggesting it could come in return for Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel at the conference.

The Guardian has reported that French officials briefed their Israeli counterparts this week that the conference would not be the moment for recognition. Instead, it will now focus on outlining steps towards recognition, contingent on a series of measures and concessions from the Palestinians.

These will include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives, reform of the Palestinian Authority, economic reconstruction and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state at the conference would have been a "symbolic" decision and said they had a "particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the UN Security Council not to do so without the support of allies.

Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns that the recognition of a Palestinian state could end up being indefinitely delayed by the announced steps.

"Those steps should not be an endless (nonexistent) 'peace process' but pressure on Israel to stop obstructing a state," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Although 147 countries recognize the state of Palestine, much of Europe has been reluctant and long stated that such a move could only come with Israel's approval and reciprocal moves from Arab states.

Ireland, Spain and Norway recognized a Palestinian state last year, and there has been an increasing consensus that recognition should come unilaterally as a means of pressuring Israel to change tack.

Last week, Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas told Middle East Eye (MEE) that France's push to recognize Palestine was "serious and has the backing of most of the European Union and Saudi Arabia”.

However, both Britain and France have faced pressure from the United States over the plans, while Israel has said it would expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank in response.

Israeli war minister Israel Katz said plans to build a further 22 settlements in the occupied territory were "a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state".

In July last year, the Israeli parliament voted overwhelmingly to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, with only Palestinian lawmakers and a single left-wing Jewish MP voting in support.

Pinkas told MEE that while there was no meaningful domestic support in Israel or the parliament for Palestinian statehood, the international community’s pitch to Israel over ending the war should be that “we are your friends, we want you to succeed, this cannot go on... Netanyahu is driving you to unmitigated and irreparable disaster. Wake up, we are here to help".

 

Israel announces major expansion of settlements in occupied West Bank

Israeli ministers announced 22 new Jewish settlements have been approved in the occupied West Bank — the biggest expansion in decades. Several already exist as outposts, built without government authorization, but will now be made legal under Israeli law. Others are completely new, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, reports BBC.

Settlements — which are widely seen as illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this — are one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Katz said the move "prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel", while the Palestinian presidency called it a "dangerous escalation".

The Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now called it "the most extensive move of its kind" in more than 30 years and warned that it would "dramatically reshape the West Bank and entrench the occupation even further".

Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem — land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for their hoped-for future state — in the 1967 Middle East war.

Successive Israeli governments have allowed settlements to grow. However, expansion has risen sharply since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022 at the head of a right-wing, pro-settler coalition, as well as the start of the Gaza war, triggered on 07 October 07, 2023.

On Thursday, Israel Katz and Bezalel Smotrich — an ultranationalist leader and settler who has control over planning in the West Bank — officially confirmed a decision that is believed to have been taken by the government two weeks ago.

A statement said ministers had approved 22 new settlements, the "renewal of settlement in northern Samaria, northern West Bank, and reinforcement of the eastern axis of the State of Israel".

It highlighted what the ministers described as the "historic return" to Homesh and Sa-Nur, two settlements deep in the northern West Bank which were evacuated at the same time as Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005.

Two years ago, a group of settlers established a Jewish religious school and an unauthorized outpost at Homesh, which reports say would be among nine made legal under Israeli law.

Another settlement will reportedly be built not far to the south on Mount Ebal, near Nablus.

Katz said the decision was a "strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel, and serves as a buffer against our enemies."

"This is a Zionist, security, and national response — and a clear decision on the future of the country," he added.

Smotrich called it a "once-in-a-generation decision" and declared, "Next step sovereignty".

A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — who governs parts of the West Bank not under full Israeli control — called it a "dangerous escalation" and accused Israel of continuing to drag the region into a "cycle of violence and instability".

"This extremist Israeli government is trying by all means to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Reuters news agency.

Lior Amihai, director of Peace Now said, "The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise, the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal."

This step is a blow to renewed efforts to revive momentum on a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict — the internationally approved formula for peace that would see the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel — with a French-Saudi summit planned at the UN's headquarters in New York next month.

Last year, the UN's top court issued an advisory opinion saung, "Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful". The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also said Israeli settlements "have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law", and that Israel should "evacuate all settlers".

Israel's prime minister said at the time that the court had made a "decision of lies" and insisted that "the Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land".

Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli move to occupy Gaza

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of the Israeli occupation authorities’ announcement regarding their incursion into and control of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian territories.

The ministry also strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm stance against any attempts to expand Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and stressed the importance of holding the occupation authorities accountable to implement international resolutions.

The ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, in line with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Saudi Arabia: Unwavering stance on Palestine

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its unwavering and non-negotiable stance on the establishment of a Palestinian state, emphasizing that its position remains steadfast and is not subject to political bargaining.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the Kingdom's commitment to Palestinian statehood is deeply rooted and unshakable.

"This firm stance was explicitly affirmed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman during his address at the opening of the first year of the ninth session of the Shoura Council on September 18, 2024. In his speech, the Crown Prince made it clear that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is established, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The statement further highlighted that the Crown Prince reiterated this position at the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2024. During the summit, he emphasized the urgent need to establish a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, end Israeli occupation, and mobilize the international community in support of Palestinian rights. He also called on more nations to recognize Palestine and underscored the significance of securing full United Nations membership for the Palestinian state, as reflected in UN General Assembly resolutions.

Saudi Arabia also firmly rejected any actions that undermine Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, land annexation, and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland.

The Kingdom called on the international community to take decisive action to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the Palestinian people, who continue to stand resilient in defense of their land and rights.

The Kingdom reiterated that its stance is not open for negotiation or political bargaining. It stressed that a just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without ensuring the Palestinian people receive their full legitimate rights under international resolutions, a position Saudi Arabia has made clear to both the previous and current U.S. administrations.

 

United States godfathering Israel

Lately, the United States blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have recognized a Palestinian state. Twelve members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the resolution, while two countries – the UK and Switzerland – abstained. The United States vetoed it.

The Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, sharply criticized the US veto, saying in a statement that it was unfair, immoral, and unjustified, and defies the will of the international community, which strongly supports the State of Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the US for vetoing what he called a shameful proposal.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel had announced earlier that the US would vote against the Security Council resolution, saying that the US has been very clear, consistently, that premature actions in New York, even with the best intentions, will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people, referring to the headquarters of the United Nations.

He also noted there was no unanimity as to whether the Palestinians met the criteria for membership as a state in the UN, saying the US believes future statehood should be dependent on negotiations between Israel and representatives of the Palestinians.

“The most expeditious path towards statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the United States and other partners who share this goal,” Patel said.

Palestinian attempts for recognition as a full member state began in 2011. They are currently a non-member observer state, a status that was granted in November 2012.

At the time, UN Ambassador of the Palestinian Territories Riyad Mansour called the step a historic moment, adding that he hoped the Security Council will elevate itself to implanting the global consensus on the two-state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan condemned Friday’s move as consideration of a Palestinian terror state.

“This won’t be a regular state. It will be a Palestine-Nazi state, an entity that achieved statehood despite being committed to terror and Israel’s annihilation,” Erdan added.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed disappointment over the UN Security Council's failure to pass a draft resolution that would have granted full UN membership to the State of Palestine.

The ministry said this decision contributes to the ongoing challenges faced by the region, particularly by allowing the continuation of Israeli occupation forces' actions without repercussions.

The ministry emphasized that the obstruction of Palestine's full membership in the UN hinders peace efforts and allows violations of the international law to persist.

Saudi Arabia reiterated its call for the international community to take decisive actions to stop attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip and to support the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood. This state, according to Saudi Arabia, should be established within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, aligning with the parameters set forth by the Arab Peace Initiative and other relevant international resolutions.

 

Palestinian state must for Mideast stability

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that the only pathway towards security and stability in the Middle East, including Israel, was through the establishment of a Palestinian state, reports the Saudi Gazette.

Addressing a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference about normalization of ties with Israel, Prince Faisal underscored the need to ensure a safe path to a two-state solution, saying, the greater the consensus in the international community on the two-state solution, the closer we will get to it.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib also attended the discussion.

The foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia has no relations with Israel. “Normalization of relations with Israel depends on the implementation of the Arab Peace Treaty. We do not talk to them directly,” he said.

Prince Faisal stressed that Saudi Arabia was now concentrating on a truce in the Gaza war. “We are focused on a ceasefire and on an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and we are focused on humanitarian access for the people of Gaza”.

“What Israel is doing in Gaza will not make it safer, but rather will push a new generation towards extremism,” he said while calling for all those, who obstruct the two-state solution, to be held accountable.

For his part, Sameh Shoukry said that Cairo confirmed to Tel Aviv that removing the displaced Palestinians from Rafah poses a threat to Egypt’s national security, saying that there are catastrophic consequences of displacing the people of Gaza.

He considered that the lack of will of the international community is what has been obstructing the two-state solution for years.

On her part, Hadja Lahbib called for bringing out a comprehensive plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing that the current crisis in Gaza cannot be resolved militarily.

The Belgian minister said that Israel must offer an alternative solution as long as it rejects the two-state solution, stressing that the two-state solution is capable of defusing the conflict in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Saturday that he discussed with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement on his X account, Borrell stated that he also discussed with the Saudi minister the need for regional security and the practical steps that can be taken within the framework of our joint work on the two-state solution.

On Friday, Prince Faisal discussed with his British counterpart David Cameron the developments on the Gaza situation and the international efforts being made in this regard. Their meeting was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Saudi Crown Prince calls for Palestinian state on 1967 borders

According to Saudi Gazette, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called for creating conditions that lead to stability in Gaza and lasting peace that ensures a just solution to the Middle East conflict by establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Prince Mohammed affirmed the Kingdom's categorical rejection of targeting civilians under any pretext and stressed the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and the need to stop military operations against civilians and their infrastructure that directly affects their lives.

The Crown Prince made the remarks during his opening speech at the GCC-ASEAN summit in Riyadh on Friday.

"As we are holding this meeting, we are pained by the escalation of the ongoing violence in Gaza, the price of which is being paid by innocent civilians," he said.

Deputizing for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Prince Mohammed chaired the Riyadh Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Crown Prince received the leaders and heads of delegations participating in the summit upon their arrival at the summit's venue.

At the outset of the summit, verses of the Holy Qur'an were recited, following that the Crown Prince delivered the opening speech.

He said, "On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, I am delighted to welcome you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are pleased to hold this summit that is a testimony to the friendship and cooperation between the GCC states and ASEAN.

"Our meeting today aims to further develop cooperation and partnership in a way that fulfills the interests of peoples, increases opportunities for development, and consolidates security and stability."

He added, "The GCC-ASEAN countries have achieved a milestone in economic development, with the collective GDP of our countries exceeding US$7.8 trillion. We have witnessed economic growth that has increased our countries' contribution to the global GDP; the economies of the GCC and ASEAN countries have grown by 7.3% and 5.7%, respectively in 2022, motivating us to work together toward a more prosperous economy."

The growing GCC-ASEAN trade relations are evident by the volume of trade with the ASEAN countries, amounting to US$137 billion, 8% of GCC's global trade. The GCC exports to the ASEAN countries constitute 9% of its total exports; the GCC imports from ASEAN amount to 6% of the total GCC imports.

Over the past 20 years, the GCC invested 4% of its total foreign investments in ASEAN countries, amounting to US$75 billion. The ASEAN investment in the GCC accounts for 3.4% of the total foreign direct investments in the GCC countries, amounting to US$24.8 billion.

"We look forward to strengthening our economic relations, taking advantage of the available opportunities, and opening new scopes of cooperation in all fields, in light of the human resources, commercial opportunities, and promising investment projects that our countries possess."

Prince Mohammed commended "the level of coordination and cooperation our countries enjoy when it comes to international developments," while reaffirming the keenness to further advance joint action "to realize our goals and meet the aspirations of our peoples."

The Crown Prince appreciated ASEAN countries' support for the Kingdom's bid to host the Expo 2030 in Riyadh.

"The joint GCC-ASEAN action plan for 2024-2028 sets out a clear road map for increasing cooperation and partnership, which we are all keen to do, in various fields in order to serve our interests," he said.

He pledged that GCC countries will continue to be safe and reliable sources of energy, and contribute to maintaining the stability of global energy markets. "We are striving, at an accelerated pace, to meet, in a sustainable way, the requirements for developing clean, low-carbon energy technologies and petrochemical supply chains," Prince Mohammed said.

"We also look forward to achieving the maximum benefit from logistical resources and infrastructure, for expanding cooperation in tourism and cultural activities, enhancing communication among our peoples and establishing partnerships among the business sectors in our countries, to contribute to achieving the goals of our ambitious visions for a better future of prosperity, development and progress."