Palestinian Statehood Conference: What You Need to Know
The spotlight is on Palestinian statehood this Monday at the United Nations, as a major conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia brings world leaders together during the annual U.N. General Assembly in New York.
A notable diplomatic shift is underway, with approximately 10 more countries expected to formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, including France and Belgium. This would add to the 147 of 193 U.N. member states that already acknowledge Palestine. Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal have already confirmed their recognition.
This highly symbolic action aims to revitalize the long-sought two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which appears increasingly elusive as the Gaza war continues into its second year. The crisis is exacerbated by Israel’s rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank and a worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency, stating last week, “I think we absolutely must do everything and mobilize as much as we can the international community to make sure that the two-state solution prevails. What is the alternative?”
While this recognition may not immediately alter the situation on the ground or grant Palestine full U.N. membership (which requires Security Council approval, likely to be vetoed by the United States), diplomats believe it highlights a significant international alignment. Many European, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations are diverging from Washington’s policy, isolating the United States on this critical issue.
Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, noted that it “does underline that there is still some potential pathway to a diplomatic solution for the Palestinians, even if everyone recognizes that it is an extremely long pathway.”
Both the United States and Israel oppose the conference, arguing that state recognition would empower Hamas, especially while Israel is still engaged in conflict in Gaza and hostages from the October 7, 2023, attacks remain unreleased. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed the initiative as “one-sided” and “theater.”
Prior to the conference, the General Assembly overwhelmingly ratified the “New York Declaration” with 142 votes in favor. This document, proposed by France and Saudi Arabia, calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, outlining “tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution. It also condemns the 2023 Hamas-led attacks, Israel’s civilian assaults in Gaza, and the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Here’s what else to expect from the conference:
- Key speakers: The three-hour conference at the U.N. General Assembly hall will feature speeches from Secretary-General Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, and representatives from several other countries. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is slated to deliver a virtual address.
- Palestinian presence: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs parts of the West Bank, will participate virtually from Ramallah, as the United States denied visas to him and his delegation.
- A new approach to peace: Diplomats are advocating for a new strategy, reversing the traditional approach of deferring Palestinian statehood to the final stages of negotiations. This conference aims to begin with the recognition of a Palestinian state, building peace from that foundation.
- Protests: The lead-up to the conference has seen heightened emotions. Tens of thousands of Italians protested in solidarity with Palestinians in Milan and Rome during a general strike. In France, over 50 town halls defied government warnings by raising Palestinian flags, just hours before President Macron’s expected formal recognition.
French Town Halls Raise Palestinian Flags, Defying Government Directives
In a powerful act of defiance, more than 50 town halls across France hoisted Palestinian flags on Monday. This move came just hours before President Emmanuel Macron was anticipated to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations.
The French Interior Ministry reported that 86 of France’s nearly 35,000 municipalities participated in this symbolic gesture. The Interior Minister had initially opposed the action, citing breaches of public service neutrality and potential public disturbances. However, left-leaning mayors in major cities like Rennes, Nantes, and Lyon, alongside numerous smaller towns and Paris suburbs, proceeded with the display.
Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist Party, standing before Saint-Denis town hall where the Palestinian, French, and E.U. flags flew together, declared, “This flag is not the flag of Hamas; it is the flag of men and women who also have the right to freedom and self-determination.” He added, “Hoisting a flag in front of a town hall won’t change the region’s fate. But it’s a way to tell the world that France, and not just the president of the republic, support this move,” referring to the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Macron’s decision has created division within France, a nation home to Western Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities. While many on the left view it as a crucial step toward peace, right-wing politicians and some within France’s Jewish community argue it would embolden Hamas and that statehood should only follow direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had instructed state prefects to refer any mayors flying the Palestinian flag to French courts, asserting last week, “The front of a town hall is not a billboard.”
Interestingly, some cities, such as Saint-Ouen near Paris, chose to fly both Israeli and Palestinian flags. On Sunday evening in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated with projections of both Palestinian and Israeli flags, accompanied by an image of a dove holding an olive branch.
Understanding Statehood: What Defines a Nation?
The current global debate over Palestinian statehood raises a fundamental question: what truly constitutes a state, especially when its borders are contested and its population’s leadership preferences are divided?
The internationally recognized criteria for statehood were established in a 1933 treaty. These include four core elements: a permanent population, clearly defined territorial boundaries, an effective government, and the capacity to engage in international relations.
Official recognition acknowledges that a prospective state largely fulfills these conditions, even if certain elements, like territorial boundaries, remain in dispute. As Zinaida Miller, a law and international affairs professor at Northeastern University, notes, “interpretation matters” in all legal contexts.
According to many international law experts, Palestine meets these fundamental criteria. It possesses a permanent population and a recognizable landmass. Although contested, its borders are generally understood to encompass Israeli-occupied territories, including the West Bank and Gaza (seized in the 1967 war with Arab states), along with East Jerusalem, which Israel has de facto annexed.
The Palestinian Authority functions as a governing body, managing parts of the West Bank and representing Palestinians. Its authority derives from the Palestine Liberation Organization, the international representative of Palestinians.
Despite the constraints imposed by Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Hamas’s control of Gaza, international recognition of a Palestinian state would establish direct diplomatic ties between the Palestinian Authority and recognizing nations. This act would carry significant diplomatic and political weight, affirming the Palestinian right to self-determination and challenging Israeli government policies that undermine this right, as highlighted by Ms. Miller.
U.N. General Assembly: What to Expect from World Leaders
This week marks the high-level segment of the U.N. General Assembly, where global leaders converge in New York to tackle the world’s most pressing issues. Now in its 80th year, this gathering occurs during a challenging period for the organization, marked by ongoing global conflicts and internal financial strains. Nevertheless, it remains a crucial platform, drawing over 140 heads of state, senior officials, and delegations.
The main event, the General Debate, begins on Tuesday, providing a forum for representatives from each member state to address various global concerns.
Beyond the primary debate, several other key events are on the world’s radar:
- On Monday, Palestinian statehood will be a central topic at a conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. This follows recent formal recognition of Palestinian statehood by Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal, with France also signaling its intent. Additionally, the Security Council is expected to convene an emergency meeting regarding a recent incursion by Russian fighter jets into Estonian airspace.
- On Tuesday, the Security Council has scheduled meetings on the war in Gaza and the broader Middle East security situation (1 p.m. ET), as well as on Ukraine (4 p.m. ET).
- On Wednesday, leaders will participate in a climate summit to present new commitments and discuss solutions for climate change.
- On Thursday, discussions will focus on the complexities and governance of artificial intelligence.
The high-level assembly also provides opportunities for bilateral meetings among world leaders. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed interest in meeting with President Trump. The Russian foreign minister might also meet his U.S. counterpart, following recent diplomatic efforts that have done little to de-escalate the war in Ukraine.
Here’s a day-by-day look at some of the anticipated speakers:
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Traditionally, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the member state comments. This comes after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, was sentenced to over 27 years for a failed coup attempt, a ruling Trump had urged Brazil to drop. Lula has pledged not to yield to U.S. pressure.
President Trump will speak next, representing the United States, in line with the host country’s convention. His address is expected to cover topics like the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine (which he vowed to end, without success), his domestic immigration policies, and a wave of protectionist tariffs that have caused concern among trading partners globally.
Other leaders slated to speak include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and representatives from Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt. An Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar this month has sparked outrage among some Arab leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also address the assembly, continuing his diplomatic push for Palestinian statehood recognition to help revive a two-state solution with Israel.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whose country has expressed alarm over recent Russian drone incursions, is scheduled to speak in the afternoon.
Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, will also deliver remarks. Her country is under pressure from Trump regarding trade and drug cartel issues.
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak, likely focusing on Russia’s invasion. Despite cautious optimism after an August meeting with Trump, direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin remain elusive, and Moscow has intensified drone attacks.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is confirmed to attend and speak. His address follows a June war with Israel that significantly impacted Iran’s military command.
Wednesday will also mark the U.N. debut of Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, whose rebel alliance ousted Bashar al-Assad in December.
Thursday, Sept. 25
The Trump administration denied visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, but the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to allow Palestinian representatives to participate virtually, including a prerecorded statement from Abbas. Meanwhile, Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City has worsened the humanitarian crisis, leading to widespread hunger.
Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris is also expected to speak. His country has been embroiled in a civil war for two years.
Friday, Sept. 26
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will open Friday’s speeches. Netanyahu faces internal military disagreements over his Gaza war strategy, and the conflict has intensified his international isolation and domestic political opposition.
He will be followed by China’s Premier Li Qiang, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s once-close relationship with Trump has reportedly cooled recently.
A representative from Nepal is also expected to speak, following recent violent protests that led to a government collapse. Sushila Karki, the country’s first female chief justice and now interim prime minister, has taken leadership, though it is unclear who will represent Nepal.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to speak. Carney has been working with Mexico’s President Sheinbaum on an “action plan” to address Trump’s tariffs. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov will also deliver remarks, with the Kremlin insisting on its “security guarantees” before considering a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil is expected to address the assembly amidst a significant buildup of U.S. naval forces near Venezuelan waters. Washington has escalated its rhetoric against drug cartels, carried out lethal strikes on suspected smugglers, and labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a terrorist-cartel leader, while Maduro continues to accuse the U.S. of attempting to overthrow him.
Monday, Sept. 29
The week will conclude with remarks from representatives of Afghanistan, where the Taliban regained power four years ago, and South Sudan. The specific individuals representing these countries are yet to be confirmed.