France and Saudi Arabia Rally Support for Two-State Solution
France and Saudi Arabia are preparing to convene an international summit on Monday, aiming to garner support for the two-state solution and the formal recognition of the State of Palestine. The summit is expected to see widespread participation from world leaders, a move that could anger Israel and the United States.
Mixed Reactions
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, announced that Israel and the United States would boycott the summit, calling it a "circus." Danon criticized the move, considering it to be "rewarding terrorism" and not contributing to solving the problem.
In contrast, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal announced their formal recognition of the State of Palestine last Sunday. France and five other countries, including Belgium and Luxembourg, intend to follow suit on Monday. However, the move does not enjoy unanimous support in Europe, as Italy warned that it could be "counterproductive," while Germany expressed concerns that it would undermine efforts to reach a two-state solution through negotiation.
Israeli Threats of Annexation
Israeli sources revealed that Israel is considering annexing parts of the occupied West Bank and imposing specific bilateral sanctions on France in response to these recognitions, despite considering them to be symbolic in nature.
UAE Warnings
Israel's plan could have dire consequences, especially as it could alienate a key ally like the United Arab Emirates. The UAE, a global oil power and a diplomatic hub in the Middle East, has made it clear that Israel's annexation of the West Bank would represent a "red line." Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, warned that "the essence of the Abraham Accords is to promote peace in the region, and annexation would completely destroy that spirit."
US Warnings
The US government has also issued threats to France and other countries, stressing that it will take countermeasures against any "actions targeting Israel." The American warnings are considered a direct challenge to the diplomatic authority of French President Emmanuel Macron, especially as the summit is being held under his presidency.
Timely and Political Context
This summit comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza City for two years. In October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded by launching a large-scale military operation that killed more than 65,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip (mostly civilians) and caused famine and mass displacement.
Rejection of Hamas
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that recognizing the State of Palestine represents a categorical rejection of Hamas and a demand for it to "not participate in the governance of Gaza at all." The United Nations General Assembly also called in its seven-page declaration for "taking practical, time-bound and irreversible steps" to achieve the two-state solution, while condemning Hamas and demanding its surrender and disarmament.
Questions about Real Impact
This French move aims to break the dominance of small countries over "criticizing Israel" and try to inject new momentum into the two-state solution through the support of major countries. But Palestinian refugee Nabeel Jaber doubted this, saying: "Even if Australia, Canada, and France recognize Palestine, there will not be enough pressure to force Israel to concede."
The Position of Israeli Public Opinion
In contrast, Israelis believe that the Palestinians have repeatedly rejected peace proposals. Tamara Raveh, a 25-year-old film student, says: "We have put forward five peace plans, and they have not accepted any of them. Why should we reconcile with those who kidnap and kill our people?"
Notable Absences
It is worth noting that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of officials were unable to attend the summit in person due to the United States' refusal to grant them entry visas and were forced to participate via video. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, one of the main sponsors of the summit, also missed it for undisclosed reasons and participated via video as well.
European Division
The position of the European Union member states was mixed on this issue, as Germany and Italy strongly opposed recognition, considering that this step could "undermine the basis for negotiations." In contrast, Spain, Ireland, and other countries supported the French move. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that the current focus should be on "ceasefire and humanitarian assistance," not on unilaterally changing the status quo.
Implications of Annexing the West Bank
Analysts indicate that Israel's annexation of the West Bank could lead to the complete collapse of the Abraham Accords and a chain reaction in the Arab world. The UAE has hinted at the possibility of downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel, which would be a major blow to the US strategy in the Middle East.
Uncertain Future
As the summit approaches, the international community is closely watching: Will this wave of recognition of the State of Palestine, led by France and Saudi Arabia, be a decisive step to break the deadlock, or will it be a fuse that ignites more conflict?
ZH
