On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia is set to open the first meeting of a new “international alliance” aimed at advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to state media reports. This “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution” was introduced last month during the UN General Assembly and includes Arab, Islamic, and European nations.
The meeting, taking place in Riyadh over two days, will address topics such as humanitarian access, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and incentives for promoting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sven Koopmans, the EU’s special representative for the Middle East peace process, is expected to attend.
The ongoing Gaza war has renewed discussions about a two-state solution, which aims for peaceful coexistence between Israeli and Palestinian states. However, analysts suggest that achieving this goal appears increasingly difficult, especially given the current stance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government, which opposes Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia, a key player in the region, had previously paused US-mediated discussions on normalizing relations with Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated that an independent Palestinian state is a prerequisite for normalization.
Recent events have seen countries like Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognize a Palestinian state, with Slovenia joining them, raising the total number of UN member states recognizing a Palestinian state to 146 out of 193. The escalation of violence in Gaza, initiated by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
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