France mobilizing allies to push two-state solution ahead of French-Saudi summit next month

Paris is rallying its allies worldwide ahead of a landmark summit on reviving momentum for the two-state solution that it will co-host with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations headquarters in New York next month, says the French embassy in Israel.

“The French authorities are mobilizing their international partners to ensure that this conference can bring about change on the ground,” says the embassy in a statement, adding that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot hosted his Jordanian, Saudi and Egyptian counterparts in Paris on Friday “for highly constructive discussions” on this subject.

“The conference aims to achieve concrete steps in four key areas: recognition of a Palestinian state; normalization and regional integration of the State of Israel; reforms in Palestinian governance; and the disarmament of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of government,” says the embassy.

It says that eight working groups have been established, with the involvement of multiple countries, to work on issues including establishing and preserving a Palestinian state, guaranteeing security for Israelis and Palestinians, creating “peace-promoting narratives,” humanitarian relief and reconstruction, and the application of international law to sustain a two-state framework.

It describes the context of the conference as “historic,” given Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, “statements by several Israeli leaders about plans to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, the acceleration of settlement activity in the West Bank, and rising settler violence.”

“The two-state solution is more threatened today than ever before. The conflict cannot be ignored or pushed aside. The political and diplomatic path must be renewed and a solution must be found, despite the obstacles, of which France is well aware,” concludes the embassy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have repeatedly spoken against the establishment of a Palestinian state at this time, claiming it would constitute a “prize for terror” by awarding Hamas for its October 7, 2023, onslaught, which sparked the ongoing war.

Reports this week said that Israeli government ministers have been warning European states that any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state may prompt Israel to take unilateral measures in response, potentially including the annexation of parts of the West Bank.