World Leaders Back Palestine at Summit | Two-State Solution Gains Momentum

NEW YORK: A high-level summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia is set to boost international recognition of a Palestinian state, even as Israel strongly opposes the move. Several countries, including Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, have already announced recognition, while France and others are expected to follow during the summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Israel and the United States are boycotting the event, with Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissing it as a “circus.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to accept a Palestinian state and is reportedly considering annexing parts of the occupied West Bank in response. Germany and Italy remain hesitant, insisting recognition should come only after a negotiated peace. Russia and the UAE, however, maintain that a two-state solution is the only viable path to lasting peace. The summit comes amid Israel’s intensified assault on Gaza, which has drawn global condemnation. While symbolic, France’s recognition highlights growing urgency as violence escalates. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision reflects Paris’s “commitment to the two-state solution,” as pressure mounts to prevent its complete collapse.