French Foreign Minister's Statement: - "French Minister of Foreign Affairs advocates unequivocally for a two-state resolution in the Middle East, asserting no viable alternative."
In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, most European countries, including the entire European Union, have shown strong support for the two-state solution as a framework for peace. This consensus was evident in their backing of the "New York Declaration," an international agreement aimed at taking concrete, time-bound steps towards a peaceful settlement based on the two-state principle.
The declaration, issued at a high-level UN conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, outlines a comprehensive, actionable plan encompassing political, security, humanitarian, economic, legal, and strategic dimensions to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It calls for an end to war, occupation, and forced displacement, emphasizing that only a political solution respecting international law can deliver peace and security.
The declaration specifically demands Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the unification of Gaza with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, and the establishment of a demilitarized, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. European countries and the EU participated alongside 17 other countries and the Arab League in endorsing this framework during the United Nations High-Level International Conference (July 28–30, 2025), signaling strong diplomatic backing for renewed peace efforts.
However, key parties such as Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the United States are opposing or boycotting the conference, citing concerns over the timing and nature of the meeting. Israel rejects the two-state framework on nationalistic and security grounds, and the U.S. has labeled the conference unproductive and ill-timed. This stance presents a significant challenge for the implementation of the peace plan.
Florian Hahn, State Minister in the German Foreign Office, is participating in the conference in New York. Hahn emphasizes Germany's support for the two-state solution as the only measure to permanently resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. Hahn also calls for a "new security architecture" for the implementation of the two-state solution and urges the release of all hostages, the laying down of weapons, and the abandonment of any future claims to power by Hamas.
Notably, France will officially recognize a Palestinian state during the general debate of the UN General Assembly in September, as announced by French President Emmanuel Macron. Germany is already helping to build the future Palestinian state by strengthening the Palestinian Authority and supporting it in building state structures and reforms.
Despite these efforts, a war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip is currently ongoing. The two-state solution, involving the creation of an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel, is emphasized by France's Foreign Minister. Hahn wants to highlight Germany's contributions to the implementation of the two-state solution at the conference. This support from Germany contributes to Israel's security.
These developments indicate a notable moment of renewed global commitment to the two-state solution, yet geopolitical realities present major obstacles to immediate implementation. The ongoing conflict in Gaza underscores the need for urgent diplomatic efforts to bring about a lasting peace in the Middle East.
[1] United Nations, "New York Declaration," 2025, https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-202507/
[2] AFP, "European countries back two-state solution at UN conference," 2025, https://www.france24.com/en/20250730-european-countries-back-two-state-solution-at-un-conference
[3] Reuters, "Analysis: The two-state solution under strain," 2025, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-israel-palestinians-analysis-idUSKCN24C20W
[4] CBC News, "Canada's Chrystia Freeland attends UN conference on Middle East peace," 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-un-middle-east-peace-conference-1.5637556
- The New York Declaration, endorsed by European countries and the EU, falls under the category of policy-and-legislation, given its call for concrete, time-bound steps towards a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with solutions being debated in international forums like the United Nations, can be considered a major news topic under general-news, particularly in the politics section, given the geopolitical implications it holds.
