France, Saudi push two-state peace path

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

France will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September, French Foreign Affairs Minister JeanNoël Barrot announced during a high-level international conference in New York, marking a decisive shift in European diplomacy that now aligns with Saudi Arabia’s regional peace-building efforts.

The move was revealed at a UN General Assembly-led plenary session on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine question, where Barrot called on world leaders to join what he described as an “irreversible momentum” toward a two-state solution. The September announcement is expected to coincide with a summit of heads of state and government during the UN General Assembly.

Arab Coordination

The French minister praised the coordination with Saudi Arabia, which is working with France to revive the stalled peace roadmap. He said this new collective initiative has already led to historic commitments from both the Palestinian Authority and regional Arab powers.

Barrot cited a recent letter from the Palestinian Authority to President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman, where the Palestinian leadership condemned the 7 October attacks for the first time, pledged the disarmament of Hamas, promised to end payments to prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, and announced elections for 2026.

“This recognition, a major decision by France, expresses a refusal, and also contains a call,” Barrot told the assembly, urging countries that have not yet recognised Palestine to act now while the political window remains open.

Two-State Revival

The announcement comes amid concern that the two-state solution is slipping further out of reach. Barrot warned that the current trajectory, marked by ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, the expansion of West Bank settlements, and the political fragmentation of Palestinian territories, has placed the prospect of coexistence in mortal danger.

He sharply criticised both Hamas and Israeli extremists, saying the violence and rejectionism on both sides were undermining any viable path to peace.

“The two-state solution is about to give way to perpetual confrontation,” he said, stressing that France’s recognition of Palestine is meant to empower non-violent actors, isolate Hamas, and pressure Israel to abandon annexation plans.

Next Steps

France’s top diplomat called on Arab and Muslim countries to renew normalisation efforts with Israel and help construct a regional security architecture. He also urged Israel to lift the humanitarian blockade on Gaza, cease its military operations, and resume dialogue.

Barrot framed the move as both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. “Today, we have the opportunity to save a peace process. That is our responsibility before history,” he said.

France’s recognition will make it the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to take such a step since Russia’s recognition in 1988, and could provide new diplomatic momentum in the lead-up to the UN General Assembly summit this September.

So far, over 140 UN member states have recognised Palestine, but France’s move carries unique weight given its position in both the EU and global security institutions.

France’s message, Barrot concluded, is simple. “Refusing to give up on peace is the most powerful act of diplomacy in our time.”