Summary
France failed to rally UN participants for Palestinian recognition.
The event addressed Palestine and a two-state solution.
Conference held in New York at the UN.
Participants did not agree to recognize Palestine.
Effort highlights challenges in international consensus on Palestine.
In a document presented to the participating countries and obtained by The Jerusalem Post, it was written that:
"We, the foreign ministers of countries that have recognized Palestine as a state or have expressed our willingness to do so, call on other countries around the world to join the call to recognize Palestine as a state."
The summit was held in New York, and the foreign ministers that attended met behind closed doors. The plan was submitted to the attendees by the French delegation, which was led by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. However, it was not always favorably welcomed.
Norway, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland are among the nations that have previously recognized Palestine and have urged other nations to follow suit.
During the conversation, Luxembourg's foreign minister, Xavier Bettel, stated that President Emmanuel Macron shouldn't be left alone and that Israel only comprehends pressure.
He claimed that in order for Israel to claim that the move is illegal, it wants France to be the only country to recognize a Palestinian state.
Simon Harris, the foreign minister of Ireland, concurred and stated that the action would greatly advance the peace process. According to their experience, these kinds of statements are crucial.
However, when asked to answer on such short notice, within 48 hours, many European nations stated that they could not accept such a document. Some of them indicated they would feel more at ease joining a group effort than taking independent action, but they still supported the notion of a Palestinian state.
During the talks, several Asian nations showed little interest in signing the united proclamation. South Korea, Japan, and Singapore stated that while they are in favor of a two-state solution, they are unable to sign such a declaration until further thought has been given.
During the conversation, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that they could not recognize a Palestinian state right away because it is still unknown how Hamas will function in such a state. Australia could move forward with recognition once that matter is resolved and it is established that Hamas has no involvement.
France is getting ready to advocate for a wave of recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, a Western diplomat told the Post.
He claimed that the New York meeting was only the start. It was intended to raise awareness of the recognition issue, and France hopes to make considerable progress in September and inspire other nations to do the same.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told the Post that
"the conference does not promote a solution but rather deepens the illusion. He said that instead of demanding the release of hostages and working to dismantle Hamas’s terrorist regime, the organizers are engaged in discussions detached from reality".
How has this development affected Israel-Palestine tensions and the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
The recent developments—including France’s failed attempt to rally unanimous international recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN, combined with the UK’s planned conditional recognition—have taken place amid a deeply entrenched and worsening Israel-Palestine conflict, significantly affecting tensions and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israel’s government, particularly under Prime Minister Netanyahu, remains opposed to the two-state solution efforts and has criticized moves like Macron’s announcement on Palestinian recognition as rewarding terrorism.
Israel continues to maintain a hardline stance, preferring to preserve the status quo and security control rather than make concessions.