Renewed Push for Two-State Solution

The UN Security Council on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting focused heavily on the Palestinian issue and wider Middle East tensions, as Bahrain chaired the session during its presidency of the Council for April.

Opening the debate, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani strongly emphasized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing it as a central issue requiring an urgent and just resolution to achieve lasting regional stability.

Reaffirming Bahrain’s position, he stressed what he called the “urgent need for a just and lasting solution” to the Palestinian question.

He reiterated Bahrain’s support for the “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” including self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

The minister underscored the importance of implementing UN Security Council resolutions related to Gaza, calling for sustained efforts to uphold ceasefires, improve humanitarian access, and alleviate the suffering of civilians.

Al Zayani also highlighted the need to halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and opposed any forced displacement, warning that unilateral actions undermine prospects for peace.

He stressed the importance of preserving the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and maintaining support for Jordan’s custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites, as well as the role of the Jerusalem Committee chaired by Morocco’s king.

While broader regional issues, including maritime security and tensions involving Iran, were also addressed, Al Zayani said resolving the Palestinian issue remains “at the heart” of achieving stability in the Middle East.