France and Saudi Arabia will host a high-level summit in New York on Monday aimed at advancing a two-state solution and accelerating international recognition of a Palestinian state — despite vocal opposition from Israel and the United States, who have both vowed to boycott the event.
The meeting, set on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, will bring together dozens of global leaders and diplomats seeking to chart a path forward in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It follows months of growing concern over Israel’s intensifying military operations in Gaza and a surge in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli officials have sharply criticised the summit. Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel’s envoy to the UN, dismissed it as a “circus,” warning that the gathering “rewards terrorism” and undermines regional stability.
“We don’t think it’s helpful. We think it’s actually rewarding terrorism,” Danon said at a press briefing on Thursday, adding that Israel is considering “bilateral retaliatory steps,” including against France.
The Biden administration has similarly rejected the meeting and warned of potential repercussions for countries that formally recognise Palestinian statehood. Sources say Washington has cautioned Paris directly about diplomatic fallout if it proceeds.
The summit comes amid heightened tensions after Israel launched a new ground offensive in Gaza City, part of a prolonged conflict that reignited two years ago following Hamas’s cross-border attacks.
Despite international divisions, France has led the diplomatic push. President Emmanuel Macron first announced in July that his government was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state, a position that has since gained momentum among Western allies.
Last week, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal all extended formal recognition, and several other nations — including France, Belgium, Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway — are expected to follow suit in the coming days.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended the initiative, saying Monday’s summit will serve as a launchpad for a practical roadmap.
“The New York Declaration is not a vague promise for the distant future,” Barrot said. “It’s a step-by-step framework that begins with a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. After that, we must look at what comes next.”
The UN General Assembly earlier this month endorsed the declaration, laying out “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state outcome. The resolution also condemned Hamas and called for its full disarmament — language that failed to win support from either Israel or the United States.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 89, will not attend in person after the U.S. declined to issue visas to his delegation. He is expected to deliver remarks by video. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has signaled cautious support for the initiative, though concerns remain about governance and internal reforms.
Several countries backing the recognition plan have conditioned full diplomatic ties on structural changes within the PA, including transparency and leadership renewal.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is co-hosting the summit, will also participate remotely. On Friday, the UN General Assembly approved a procedural motion to allow his virtual appearance.
Analysts say the summit underscores a growing urgency among some nations to preserve the two-state framework, which has steadily eroded amid ongoing violence and diplomatic stalemates.
With Israel signaling openness to annexing parts of the West Bank, and the U.S. reluctant to endorse formal recognition of a Palestinian state, the event marks a pivotal — and potentially divisive — moment in Middle East diplomacy.
