A conference in Saudi Arabia focused on supporting Palestine and urging Western governments to acknowledge a Palestinian state has adjusted its goals. Instead of a collective declaration of state recognition from participating countries, including France and the UK, the event will now aim to agree on incremental steps towards recognition. French President Emmanuel Macron has stated recognition of Palestine as a “moral and political necessity,” yet assured Israeli counterparts that recognition will not be declared at the conference, indicating it may come as a result of other measures such as a permanent Gaza ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages, Palestinian Authority reform, economic reconstruction, and an end to Hamas’s rule in Gaza.
France and Saudi Arabia have established eight working groups to prepare for a two-state solution, with Macron hosting a civil society conference before the event. The UK is leading the humanitarian working group, with other groups addressing reconstruction, economic viability, respect for international law, narratives for peace, and visualizing the benefits of a peaceful settlement. The US and Israel have participated in pre-conference meetings but remain silent, suggesting a potential boycott.
Israel has resisted Palestinian self-determination, with polls showing limited support for a two-state solution among Israeli voters. The Israeli government has also approved plans for the largest settlement expansion in the West Bank, with Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz stating it as a strategic move against a Palestinian state. Macron’s initiative has been called “disastrous” by the Israeli ambassador to France, yet France insists recognition will not be granted without Hamas being excluded.
European countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Norway recognized a Palestinian state last year, with Macron’s stance aligning with the UK’s: recognition without Hamas. The Elders, a group of former senior UN diplomats, argue that recognition is an essential step towards peace, independent of negotiations on the final form of Palestinian statehood and the disarmament of Hamas.
French officials have stated that the conference must be a transformative moment for implementing the two-state solution. The UK’s position is shifting due to the Israeli government’s rhetoric and commitment to a two-state solution. The British are seeking firm guarantees at the conference regarding the future government of Palestine, including the exclusion of Hamas, mirrored by Hamas’s own apparent acceptance in plans by Arab states. However, Saudi recognition of Israel remains unlikely due to the Saudi crown prince’s view on Israel’s actions, echoing public sentiment.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/07/saudi-arabia-conference-to-recognise-palestinian-state-weakens-scope-ambition-diplomats-say
