The High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which began yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, has become a turning point in the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The bold move by the UK, Canada, France, Australia, Portugal among other countries to formally recognise the State of Palestine has reignited global momentum behind the two-state solution — a vision that offers the only sustainable path to peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s yesterday’s declaration that “there is no justification for what is happening in the Gaza Strip” underscores the urgency of ending the violence. His announcement that France now recognises Palestine is not merely symbolic — it is a calculated diplomatic decision aimed at breaking the cycle of bloodshed. As Macron rightly said, this step is meant to “pave the way for peace negotiations.”
And he’s not alone in this stance. The coordinated recognition of Palestine by the UK, Canada, and Australia signals a broader international consensus forming — one that acknowledges the necessity of Palestinian statehood as a foundation for peace. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s words ring clear: recognition is about reviving hope, not rewarding violence. This is diplomacy in action — not just rhetoric, but a proactive strategy to push both parties towards a negotiated solution.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah also hit the mark by calling the conference a “historic opportunity.” His critique of Israel’s regional aggression and his call for other nations to follow the recognition path highlight a settled opinion in the Global South and the Arab world that the peace cannot be dictated by military power.
Qatar has also welcomed the official recognition of the State of Palestine by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Republic of Portugal, considering these recognitions a victory for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
This wave of recognitions follows the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration — a Saudi-French initiative laying out a roadmap for peace with time-bound, irreversible steps. It is a reminder that while conflict continues on the ground, diplomacy is finally gaining traction at the highest levels. With 149 of 193 UN member states now recognising Palestine, the world is sending a clear message: the time for a two-state solution is now. Recognition is not the endgame, but it is a necessary beginning. Real peace will require negotiations, mutual concessions, and international guarantees — but without recognition, those talks could never begin. The world must choose the path of peace — and it starts with recognising Palestine.
