France and Saudi Arabia are set to convene dozens of global leaders in New York on Monday, seeking to press forward with a two-state solution and generate fresh momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The meeting, taking place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, comes at a decisive moment for the Middle East, with Israel escalating its military offensive in Gaza and settler violence mounting in the West Bank.
The summit, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to turn international consensus into tangible political action, despite strong resistance from both Israel and the United States.
Israel and US Boycott
Israel and the US have openly rejected the gathering, warning that the push for statehood recognition undermines efforts to achieve peace. Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, dismissed the event as a “circus,” accusing its organizers of “rewarding terrorism.” He added that Israel is considering a range of responses, including annexing parts of the occupied West Bank and imposing bilateral measures against France.
The Biden administration has also raised the stakes, warning of potential consequences for states that move forward with recognition of Palestinian statehood. Washington insists that unilateral recognition risks derailing prospects for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
A Summit of Urgency
The timing of the summit reflects the urgency felt by many world leaders. Two years after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, triggering a war that continues to devastate Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has deepened and the prospect of peace appears more remote than ever. Israel has intensified its ground assault on Gaza City, while settler violence in the West Bank has surged.
Diplomats argue that the two-state vision is now at risk of collapsing entirely if urgent measures are not taken. Earlier this month, the UN General Assembly endorsed a declaration calling for “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward the creation of a Palestinian state. The resolution also condemned Hamas and demanded that it surrender and disarm. However, both Israel and the US dismissed the declaration as little more than a political stunt.
France at the Forefront
France has taken the lead in galvanizing international support. Macron, who announced in July that Paris would formally recognize a Palestinian state, has framed the initiative as a moral and strategic necessity. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot defended the process last week, emphasizing that the so-called “New York Declaration” is more than a symbolic gesture.
“The New York Declaration is not a vague promise for the distant future, but a roadmap that begins with the top priorities: a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza,” Barrot told reporters. “Once those steps are achieved, the next stage will be a plan for the day after, which will be central to Monday’s discussions.”
In recent weeks, momentum has been building. Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally recognized Palestinian statehood, joining dozens of countries that have long backed the initiative. France, along with at least five other nations, is expected to follow suit during Monday’s summit.
Conditional Recognition
Not all states, however, are extending recognition unconditionally. Several countries have signaled that normalization of diplomatic ties will depend on reforms within the Palestinian Authority. Critics have questioned whether President Mahmoud Abbas, at 89 years old, has the political strength or credibility to deliver on reform commitments made in a letter to Macron earlier this year.
Israel has outright rejected the initiative, arguing that the Palestinian Authority lacks both legitimacy and capacity to govern effectively. Israeli officials point to corruption, internal divisions, and the absence of credible elections as reasons why recognition at this stage could destabilize rather than advance peace.
Palestinian Leadership Absent in Person
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Palestinian officials are notably absent from New York after the United States refused to issue them visas. Abbas is, however, expected to address the summit virtually, reiterating his support for the process and urging nations to stand firm against US and Israeli pressure.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite co-hosting the summit, will also participate remotely after the UN General Assembly granted him special permission to appear virtually. His involvement underscores Riyadh’s growing role as a broker in Middle Eastern affairs, with the kingdom leveraging its diplomatic clout to influence both Arab and Western partners.
Growing International Support
For Palestinian officials, the summit represents a critical turning point. “The world is saying out loud a Palestinian state, and we need to materialize it. Now they need to show what these measures are,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Sunday. He stressed that recognition must be followed by concrete steps to protect Palestinians on the ground, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
The effort is also seen as a test of Macron’s broader foreign policy ambitions. By spearheading the recognition drive, Paris is seeking to reclaim its influence in the Middle East and present itself as a counterweight to US dominance in peace negotiations.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the enthusiasm of several nations, significant obstacles remain. The US has indicated it will use its diplomatic weight to dissuade allies from endorsing the process, while Israel has threatened unilateral measures that could further complicate the situation on the ground. Critics also warn that without Hamas’ inclusion in talks—or its disarmament—the summit risks becoming another symbolic gesture with little real-world impact.
Still, diplomats argue that momentum is on the side of those advocating for recognition. With more countries lining up to endorse Palestinian statehood and with the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening, pressure is mounting on Israel and its allies to shift course.
Looking Forward
As leaders convene in New York, the stakes could not be higher. The summit offers a rare opportunity to reframe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not as an intractable dispute, but as a solvable political challenge requiring courage and compromise. For France and Saudi Arabia, success would mean not only advancing Palestinian aspirations for statehood but also reshaping the global diplomatic landscape in favor of multilateral solutions.
Whether the meeting delivers concrete outcomes or becomes another chapter in the long history of failed peace initiatives will depend on the ability of participating nations to turn words into actions. For now, the gathering signals a bold attempt to prevent the two-state solution from slipping into history as a missed opportunity.
