Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: The world&rsquo;s eyes are on the United Nations as the UN General Assembly, scheduled for September 22 in New York, aims to address the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;This comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The conference seeks to revive efforts for a two-state solution, which proposes separate states for Israel and Palestine.&nbsp;The diplomatic momentum toward a two-state solution gained a significant boost when the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine as a state on Sunday. This move defied opposition from Israel and the US, signaling a shift in Western foreign policy toward supporting Palestinian statehood.&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement in a televised address, writing on X, &ldquo;Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine.&rdquo;&nbsp;Canada followed suit, with Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasizing Canada&rsquo;s commitment to peace: &ldquo;Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.&rdquo;&nbsp;Australia, too, formally recognized Palestine as an &ldquo;independent and sovereign&rdquo; state. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, &ldquo;This recognition reflects Australia&rsquo;s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for both Israeli and Palestinian peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin praised the recognition, saying, &ldquo;Countries recognizing a Palestinian state this week are taking an irreversible step that preserves the two-state solution and brings Palestinian independence closer.&rdquo; She added, &quot;It might not end the war tomorrow, but it&#39;s a step forward, which we need to build on and amplify.&quot;&nbsp;UN Conference: Will it make a difference?The UN conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, is seen as a continuation of earlier discussions aimed at a peaceful resolution. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the two-state solution appeared &ldquo;farther than ever&rdquo; amid ongoing hostilities. Despite this, the conference holds significant potential, particularly given Saudi Arabia&#39;s increasing diplomatic influence.&nbsp;Dr. Kamran Bokhari, senior director at The News Lines, told Pakistan TV, &ldquo;While this conference may be largely symbolic, it brings together both Western and Arab nations at a time when the Gaza war and Israel&#39;s international standing are reshaping Middle Eastern politics.&rdquo; He added that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s co-chairmanship &ldquo;underscores Riyadh&rsquo;s efforts to bridge Arab and Western positions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan, which has long been a strong advocate for Palestinian rights and has condemned Israeli military actions, will play a crucial role in the conference. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the UNGA, where he is expected to emphasize Pakistan&#39;s position on Kashmir and Palestine. His address will focus on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for urgent international action.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role in this conference is significant. Its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council amplifies its diplomatic leverage, particularly on the Palestinian issue.&rdquo;&nbsp;Challenging path to peaceAlthough international recognition of Palestine is a positive step, many remain skeptical about the conference&rsquo;s effectiveness in achieving lasting peace.&nbsp;Dr. Hassan Abbas, professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, told Pakistan TV: &ldquo;The countries opposing the two-state solution over the past two years wield significant global political power.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Without their positive participation, this initiative will likely fail to materialize,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The US has repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing concerns over Hamas and Israel&rsquo;s security.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari noted that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s role is crucial in bridging gaps between pro-peace nations and those opposing the two-state solution.&nbsp;&ldquo;The KSA&rsquo;s co-chairmanship could serve as a bridge between countries supporting Palestinian statehood and those who believe it will empower Hamas,&rdquo; he said, referring to the 2020 Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic strategyPakistan&rsquo;s unwavering support for Palestine remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy. With its recent defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan&rsquo;s influence in the region continues to grow.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a moral advocate for Palestine, alongside its growing diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, positions it as a key player in shaping the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;As the UNGA approaches, the fate of the Two-State Solution remains uncertain. While the growing recognition of Palestine offers hope, it is unclear whether this will be enough to secure a lasting peace.&nbsp;However, the active participation of countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and France underscores the international community&rsquo;s commitment to resolving the conflict. The coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether a lasting peace is possible for Israel and Palestine.

Middle East

Britain, Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine ahead of the UNGA, signaling support for a two-state solution, amid ongoing violence in Gaza and global tensions.

Articles tagged with "Recognition"

Two-State Solution: A final chance for peace?