Riyadh and Norway Lead Meeting on Coordinated Approach to Recognizing Palestine
In a high-level meeting held in Brussels on Sunday, Saudi Arabia and Norway took the lead in discussing a coordinated approach to the recognition of Palestine.
The meeting, as reported by Saudi Press Agency, emphasized the urgent need to end the ongoing war in Gaza and to take concrete steps towards implementing a two-state solution.
Representatives from a wide range of countries including Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Latvia, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation were in attendance.
This meeting builds upon a previous gathering hosted by Riyadh on April 29, focusing on the same subject and bringing together Arab and European ministers.
Key outcomes of the meeting included expressions of support for immediate ceasefire efforts, the release of prisoners and hostages, and an end to the war in Gaza. The conference also condemned illegal unilateral measures in the occupied Palestinian territories and addressed the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Discussions also centered around concrete steps towards establishing a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution, and the importance of pursuing a political path that supports a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The meeting underscored the significance of international recognition of the Palestinian state as a crucial step towards implementing the two-state solution in accordance with international law and agreed standards, including UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
This recognition is seen as a pathway to a just and lasting solution that upholds the rights of the Palestinian people and promotes regional security, ultimately fostering normal relations between countries.
This meeting precedes the formal recognition of a Palestinian state by Norway, Spain, and Ireland on Tuesday, a move that has sparked controversy and drawn ire from Israel.