The General Assembly approved the French-Saudi resolution, officially titled "New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution," with a majority of 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions, according to a statement published by the United Nations on its website.
Between July 28 and 30, the "Two-State Solution Conference" was held in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, with high-level participation and the presence of Palestine, but absent from the United States, to support the process of international recognition of the Palestinian state.
The conference issued the "New York Declaration" on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution. It called for the recognition of the State of Palestine and granting it full membership in the United Nations, replacing the status of "non-member observer state" that has existed since 2012.
The New York Declaration includes an agreement to "work together to end the war in the Gaza Strip, achieve a just, peaceful, and lasting settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, and build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and all peoples of the region."
He stressed "rejection of any actions that lead to territorial or demographic changes, including the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."
The declaration also reiterated its "condemnation of all attacks by any party against civilians, including all acts of terrorism, indiscriminate attacks, all attacks against civilian objects, and acts of provocation, incitement, and destruction."
The declaration noted that "taking hostages is prohibited under international law."
The declaration condemned "the Israeli attacks against civilians in the Gaza Strip, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure, the blockade, and starvation, leading to a devastating humanitarian catastrophe, on the one hand, and the attacks perpetrated by Hamas against civilians on October 7, 2023, on the other."
The declaration stated that "war, occupation, terrorism, and forced displacement cannot lead to peace or security, and that a political solution is the only way to achieve this."
He added, "Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and implementing the two-state solution is the only way to meet the legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law, of both Israelis and Palestinians. It is also the best way to end violence in all its forms and any destabilizing role of non-state actors, put an end to terrorism and violence in all its forms, and ensure the security of both peoples, the sovereignty of both states, and peace, prosperity, and regional integration for the benefit of the peoples of the region."
In the declaration, the officials and delegates pledged to take "concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps toward a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution, and to realize, as soon as possible through concrete actions, an independent, democratic, sovereign, and economically viable State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel, enabling regional integration and mutual recognition."
The resolution also expressed the General Assembly's gratitude to France and Saudi Arabia for fulfilling their responsibilities as co-chairs of the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-State solution, and for drafting the New York Declaration, in conjunction with the co-chairs of the working groups and based on consultations with all participating States.
Prior to the vote, Jérôme Bonneville, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, presented the draft resolution on behalf of his country, Saudi Arabia, and the co-sponsors of the draft resolution.
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In this regard, Bonafeau said, "This declaration sets out a single roadmap for achieving a two-state solution, thanks to the key commitments made by the Palestinian Authority and Arab states for peace and security for all in the region," according to the same statement.
He stressed that "this roadmap includes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, the disarmament and removal of Hamas from power in Gaza, normalization between Israel and Arab states, and the implementation of collective security guarantees."
Israeli rejection
In contrast, the Israeli government rejected the UN General Assembly resolution on Friday evening regarding the implementation of the two-state solution, describing it in a statement as a "political circus divorced from reality," according to its claims.
The Israeli government said that "the resolution, supported by the majority of countries, does not include any reference to Hamas as a terrorist organization," it claimed.
She claimed that the resolution "does not address the fact that Hamas bears full responsibility for the continuation of the war, through its refusal to return prisoners and disarm."
The Israeli government claimed that "the decision does not advance the chances of peace, but rather encourages Hamas to continue the war."
She expressed her thanks to the countries that opposed the resolution or abstained from voting.
It is worth noting that successive Israeli governments since the 1993 Oslo Accords have treated the two-state solution selectively, attaching conditions that make its implementation difficult, without explicitly rejecting it.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's positions have undergone a shift. In 2009, he hinted at conditional acceptance of a demilitarized Palestinian state, before later backing down. His current government, considered the most extremist, has repeatedly declared its absolute rejection of the two-state solution, despite widespread international and UN support for it.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 64,756 Palestinians martyred and 164,059 wounded, most of them children and women. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and a famine has claimed the lives of 413 Palestinians, including 143 children.
