Leaders from across the globe convened in New York on Monday to support Palestinian statehood, over opposition from Israel and the United States, as the Gaza Strip neared the two-year mark of a war that has brought mass death, destruction and hunger.
A summit meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York was portrayed as an urgent effort to salvage the long-deferred vision of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza City against Hamas, and rapidly expands its settlements in the West Bank, the notion seems more distant than ever.
“We must pave the way for peace,” President Emmanuel Macron of France said, to applause from those at the meeting and a standing ovation from the Palestinian delegation. “Today, France recognizes the state of Palestine.” He noted recent statements of recognition, some not yet formalized, by Britain, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium and several others.
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told reporters, “We will take action” in response to the announcements. He declined to say if that would mean, as some Israeli officials have suggested, expanded settlements or outright annexations in the territory that has been envisioned as a Palestinian state. Israel’s response, he said, would be announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will address the United Nations gathering and meet this week with President Trump.
Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday, “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Mr. Trump “disagrees” with the recognition, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said on Monday, and “believes it is a reward to Hamas,” whose Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel touched off the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 60,000 people.
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The post World Leaders Recognize Palestinian State, in a Challenge to U.S. and Israel appeared first on New York Times.
