France Urges EU to Demand Two-State Solution for Palestinians

France has called on the European Union to exert pressure on Israel to adopt a two-state solution for the Palestinian conflict. This development comes as the situation in Gaza escalates, prompting France to reaffirm its commitment to recognizing Palestine as a state.

Jean-Noël Barrot, the French foreign minister, made this appeal during a news conference at the United Nations on October 16, 2023. He emphasized the urgency of international action, stating, “The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has to express its expectations and show the means that we can incentivise the Israeli government to hear this appeal.”

Barrot’s comments were made on the opening day of a high-level UN meeting focused on the two-state solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference has drawn representatives from 125 countries, including 50 ministers. Notably, both Israel and its key ally, the United States, opted not to participate.

The minister highlighted that the conference aims to address the diminishing prospects for a two-state solution, which has historically been deemed essential for peace in the region. Barrot urged the European Commission to advocate for several specific actions: lifting a financial blockade of €2 billion owed by Israel to the Palestinian Authority, halting settlement expansion in the West Bank, and ending the militarized food delivery system in Gaza that has led to numerous civilian casualties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the two-state solution, citing both national and security concerns. In a significant political move, French President Emmanuel Macron announced during the UN General Assembly in September that France would officially recognize Palestine as a state. This decision positions France as the leading Western nation to take such a step, potentially influencing others to follow suit.

The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Mustafa, also addressed the conference, calling for immediate recognition of Palestine as a state by countries that have not yet done so. “The path to peace begins by recognizing the state of Palestine and preserving it from destruction,” he stated.

In addition to discussions on statehood, the conference is exploring the normalization of relations between Israel and various Arab nations. Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated that normalization can only be achieved through the establishment of a Palestinian state.

As global concern intensifies over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where reports indicate that hunger is leading to fatalities, Donald Trump called for increased aid to Palestinians. This marks a rare divergence from Netanyahu’s stance, as the Israeli leader has denied claims of starvation.

Both Barrot and Farhan underscored the importance of the United States in the ongoing conflict, noting that Trump’s involvement previously resulted in the only ceasefire during the prolonged violence. Farhan expressed optimism, stating, “I am firmly in the belief that Trump’s engagement can be a catalyst for an end to the immediate crisis in Gaza and potentially a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the long term.”

As the conference progresses, the international community watches closely for any developments that may shape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.