Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: One soldier killed, 11 wounded during the security incident in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, and the fate of the 4 soldiers remains unknown
Israeli media: IOF withdraw from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood
Israeli media: Face-to-face clashes with machine guns between Hamas and Israeli forces in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Helicopters sent to evacuate troops from Al-Zaytoun are under heavy fire
Israeli media: A new security incident at an additional location in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Search for 4 missing soldiers in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Israeli media platform: In the second incident, two injured people were transported from Gaza, and we are awaiting the authorities to notify the families to provide additional details shortly
Israeli media platform: 3 security incidents reported in Gaza
Israeli media platform: A serious incident in Gaza... A dead soldier was evacuated under fire... and an additional evacuation helicopter was dispatched
Israeli media outlet: Fierce battles ongoing between our forces and "militants" in the Gaza Strip

Conference to recognize Palestinian state shifts to gradual steps

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 7 Jun 2025 09:55
  • 3 Shares
5 Min Read

The planned peace conference in Saudi Arabia and co-hosted by France will now reportedly focus on building conditions for a "two-state" solution, amid international divisions.

Listen
  • x
  • peace conference
    French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during a media conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025 (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool Photo via AP)

A planned peace conference in Saudi Arabia, initially expected to catalyze the recognition of a Palestinian state, has scaled back its ambition.

Instead of issuing a joint declaration, the event will now aim to agree on incremental steps toward recognition, The Guardian reported, citing diplomatic sources.

Scheduled for 17–20 June, the conference, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, was initially envisioned as a historic moment wherein a bloc of countries, potentially including France and the UK, would formally recognize Palestine.

However, diplomats now say such a move will be deferred in favour of practical measures to lay the groundwork for future recognition.

Read more: France urges global backing before recognizing Palestinian state

Peace conference will not serve as moment of recognition

French President Emmanuel Macron, a chief backer of the initiative, has described the recognition of Palestine as “a moral duty and political requirement.”

Nevertheless, French officials have reportedly assured their Israeli counterparts that the conference will not serve as the moment of recognition. That goal, they say, will emerge only if preconditions are met, chief among them a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives, reforms within the Palestinian Authority, and an end to Hamas’ governance in Gaza.

France and Saudi Arabia have created eight working groups focused on laying the foundation for a "two-state" solution. Macron will also host a civil society gathering under the Paris Peace Forum banner just prior to the main event.

The UK will oversee the humanitarian track among the working groups, which also include economic viability, international law, post-war reconstruction, and long-term peace narratives. Another initiative, titled "Peace Day," is set to imagine the mutual benefits of a peaceful resolution.

While the US and "Israel" have attended preliminary discussions, neither has spoken at these sessions, leading to speculation that they may boycott the conference entirely.

Read more: Let France create Palestinian State in French Riviera: Huckabee

'Israel’s' opposition and settlement expansion

Related News

Fierce resistance ambushes target IOF in al-Zaytoun, Gaza City

Slovenia mulls entry ban for Israeli PM Netanyahu

This comes as "Israel" continues to oppose Palestinian self-determination. Recent polling shows that only 20% of Israeli voters support a "two-state" solution, while 56% of Israeli settlers favour the “transfer of Arab citizens of Israel to other countries.”

"Israel" has recently approved plans to construct 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, the largest expansion in decades. Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz described the expansion as “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Also, Macron's initiative was labelled “disastrous” by "Israel’s" ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka.

Recognition of a Palestinian state was once seen as the final outcome of a broader "two-state" peace process. Now, amid growing skepticism over "Israel’s" intentions, European governments are considering recognition as a tool to pressure Tel Aviv into re-engagement. Last year, Ireland, Spain, and Norway formally recognised Palestine.

Macron has stated he would only extend recognition under a future Palestinian government without Hamas, a position echoed by the UK.

Recognition as a matter of principle, not as leverage

In an open letter to Macron, The Elders, a group of former senior UN officials, argued that recognition should be treated as a matter of principle, not as leverage.

Anne-Claire Legendre, Macron’s Middle East advisor, said the conference should "mark a transformative milestone for the effective implementation of the two-state solution."

"We must move from words to deeds, and we must move from the end of the war in Gaza to the end of the conflict,” she added.

Legendre has met with both Israeli officials and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to discuss long-term regional strategies.

Israeli media reported that French officials have pointed out that recognition "remains on the table, but not as a product of the conference. This will remain a bilateral subject between states."

Read more: France clashes with 'Israel' over humanitarian situation in Gaza

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expected to attend the conference, faces mounting pressure from MPs to adopt a firmer stance against "Israel".

Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Middle East Minister, acknowledged this week that London’s traditional wait-and-see approach is being reconsidered. He cited recent Israeli rhetoric rejecting the two-state solution as a key reason for this shift in UK policy.

The UK is seeking assurances about the future governance of Gaza, particularly that Hamas will not play a role in governance.

Meanwhile, France hopes that recognition by a group of Western nations could be balanced by Arab states normalizing ties with "Israel."

However, Saudi Arabia remains firm in its stance. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the conference’s co-host, has repeatedly asserted that "Israel" is committing genocide, a sentiment widely echoed in Saudi public opinion.

As such, Saudi recognition of "Israel" appears off the table for the foreseeable future.

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • Palestinian Statehood
  • Gaza
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced a new operation targeting Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, August 27, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen attacks al-Lydd airport in Yafa using ballistic missile

  • Politics
  • 27 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Global Sumud flotilla sets sail to break blockade on Gaza
Palestine

Global Sumud flotilla, largest yet, to set sail bound for Gaza

A Palestinian flag flies next to a Slovenian, center, and a European Union flag, right, at the government building in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Slovenia mulls entry ban for Israeli PM Netanyahu

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint news conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Turkey severs 'Israel' trade ties, closes airspace to Israeli aircraft

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships mear Caribbean
Latin America

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships near Caribbean

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS