A two-state solution remains the only internationally agreed path to lasting peace, a group of United Nations experts have called for global recognition of a Palestinian state, have reiterated. Their appeal came as some countries expressed support for the latest US-released Gaza cease-fire plan.
Over a dozen UN experts — including UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese – published a press release on June 3.
The statement said recognition of a Palestinian state “was an important acknowledgment of the rights of the Palestinian people and their struggles and suffering toward freedom and independence”.
“This is a pre-condition for lasting peace in Palestine and the entire Middle East — beginning with the immediate declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza and no further military incursions into Rafah,” the experts said noting that 146 UN member states now recognize the State of Palestine, Xinhua reported.
Norway, Ireland, and Spain formally declared their recognition of a Palestinian state on May 28, following their coordinated announcement of intending to do so on May 22
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Norway, Ireland, and Spain formally declared their recognition of a Palestinian state on May 28, following their coordinated announcement of intending to do so on May 22.
“A two-state solution remains the only internationally agreed path to peace and security for both Palestine and Israel and a way out of generational cycles of violence and resentment,” said the UN experts.
Israel has continued with its offensive in Gaza, where Al Jazeera reported on June 4 that 45 people had been killed in the previous 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Gaza media office announced that more than 3,500 children under the age of 5 in the Palestinian enclave were at risk of death, blaming Israel over its alleged starvation policy.
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On June 3, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates underscored the importance of dealing with the US-authored cease-fire proposal “seriously and positively” as they reiterated that achieving the two-state solution is the only way to achieve security and peace for the entire region.
Two far-right Israeli ministers — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — have threatened to quit if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to Biden’s cease-fire deal.
Omar Awadallah, the head of the UN organizations department in the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, told China Daily that a multilateral world where countries can live together is becoming the example.
Awadallah said that talks between top Chinese and Arab leaders at the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on May 30 had set a new example of relationship based on a shared future.
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He noted that the international consensus on the Palestinian question is the two-state solution “based on international law, based on ending the Israeli occupation … where Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine, and where we can all live together in peace and in harmony”.
Bringing peace, stability, and security to the region needs one thing, Awadallah said.
“That means the establishment and materializing the State of Palestine and the independence of Palestine, without the Israeli occupation based on the 1967 border, and with the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” he explained.
“This formula, we believe (in). We support this statement by (Chinese President Xi Jinping) and his statement about the future of peace in the region,” Awadallah added, referring to Xi’s keynote speech at the summit calling for a two-state solution.
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In the latest US-backed peace proposal, President Joe Biden announced a three-phase plan between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas on May 31
In the latest US-backed peace proposal, President Joe Biden announced a three-phase plan between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas on May 31.
The first phase of the plan includes a complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, and negotiation of a complete cessation of hostilities. The second phase would include the release of living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
It also stated that the third phase of the plan, the rebuilding of Gaza, “will begin [with] Arab nations and the international community, along with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, to get it done in a manner that does not allow Hamas to re-arm”.
“All of this would create the conditions for a different future and a better future for the Palestinian people, one of self-determination, dignity, security, and freedom,” said Biden.
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“This path is available once the deal is struck,” he added, without mentioning a two-state solution — a growing condition among many countries recognizing a Palestinian state — in his speech.
On May 10, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution, which saw 143 votes in favor of supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member, with nine voting against, including the US and Israel, and 25 members abstaining, including the United Kingdom.
The US had vetoed a similar move at the UN Security Council on April 18.
Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin in the West Bank, noted that the Biden administration’s cease-fire proposal was also aimed “to neutralize the pressures being exercised internally on the Biden administration itself”.
“There is a growing anger among many people within the Democratic Party regarding the policies and decisions taken by the Biden administration to resolve this conflict and to end atrocities and aggression exercised by Israel in Gaza,” Yousef told China Daily.
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“The US public opinion is also changing in favor of the Palestinian narrative and I think the Israeli narrative is being pushed to the corner,” he said. He noted that those now speaking up in the US include “large segments of the public, mainly university students, intellectuals, media, and civil society organizations”
Yousef said another consideration is that there is currently a vacuum, not of power but of initiatives.
He said that Israel had “attacked the roles played by Egypt and Qatar”, countries that have both already “played a substantial and crucial role” in mediating efforts between Hamas and Israel.
