U.N. Opens Conference on Recognizing Palestinian State

The United Nations has opened a three-day conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, with the goal of recognizing Palestinian statehood as well as bringing an end to the Israeli war in Gaza.

With over a month's delay, the conference kicked off on Monday, just days after French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would officially recognize Palestine as a state in September.

Paris and Riyadh had proposed the U.N. meeting months ago, in an effort to reinvigorate the peace talks that were stalled after the ongoing Israeli military offensive began in Gaza in early October 2023.

According to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, the conference would also serve as a platform for other European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said that Palestinians had a “legitimate right” for an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Al-Quds as its capital.

He also announced Riyadh’s efforts for the World Bank approval to transfer 300 million dollars to the besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank to deal with the dire humanitarian crisis there.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa called on all countries to “recognize the state of Palestine without delay.”

“All states have a responsibility to act now,” said Mustafa at the start of the meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Despite growing international pressure on Israel to end its war, the regime and its main backer, the United States, are not taking part in the meeting.

The U.S. State Department said the event was “unproductive and ill-timed,” as well as a “publicity stunt” that would make finding peace harder.

Washington has already vetoed several U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at ending the Israeli war on Gaza.