NEW YORK CITY: The UN General Assembly on Friday voted to resume a high-level international summit on the two-state solution on Sept. 22, reviving a process that was suspended during the summer amid escalating violence in the Middle East.
It followed a proposal by Saudi Arabia and France that was adopted despite strong objections from Israel and the US, both of which disassociated themselves from the decision and described the initiative as politically motivated and harmful to peace efforts.
The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine initially convened during the 79th session of the General Assembly but was suspended on July 30. The conference will now resume during the General Assembly’s 80th session, at the level of heads of state and government, underscoring the need for what proponents describe as an urgent international push toward a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
Speaking before the vote on the proposal, the Saudi representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, delivering remarks on behalf of Riyadh and Paris, said the initiative was not aimed at any particular side or party but was “a reflection of our shared commitment to uphold international law and relevant UN resolutions.”
