The United Nations General Assembly convened its first preparatory meeting on Thursday night for the upcoming High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, scheduled to take place from June 17 to 20 at UN headquarters.

The preparatory session, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, brought together representatives from numerous UN member states to lay the groundwork for what is being described as a pivotal gathering in the pursuit of a lasting peace in the Middle East.

UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang underscored the urgency and significance of the forthcoming conference, calling it “a critical opportunity that we must seize to chart an irreversible path towards the implementation of the two-state solution.” He applauded the leadership of Saudi Arabia and France in steering efforts toward a renewed international consensus on resolving the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“This conflict cannot be resolved through perpetual war, nor through endless occupation or annexation,” Yang stated. “It will only end when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their independent, sovereign states, in peace, security, and dignity.”

Participants in the preparatory meeting emphasized that the conference must generate real momentum and galvanize international will to end the Israeli occupation and secure a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace. Speakers reaffirmed that international law and past UN resolutions must be the guiding frameworks for any path forward.

Yang noted that it has been over seventy years since the General Assembly first endorsed the two-state solution and stressed the need for concrete action. “It is now our collective responsibility to act decisively and implement these resolutions. We must uphold international law, respect the principles of the UN Charter, and restore global confidence in our commitments to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” he said.

The High-Level Conference in June is expected to bring together global leaders, diplomats, and representatives from civil society to discuss actionable strategies to revive and implement the two-state solution. Organizers hope it will reinvigorate international diplomacy and reaffirm the global consensus that peace in the Middle East depends on ending the occupation and ensuring statehood and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis. (ILKHA)