He added in statements to ‘Sputnik’ that it was being prepared at the level of heads of state in June of the past year. However, due to the circumstances and wars in the region, it was postponed to be held now in July. He emphasized the ‘importance of Britain’s announcement of its intention to recognize Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting, and before that, France and many other countries, in conjunction with the genocide war against the Palestinian people, and the intensification of the occupation’s policy of killing, siege, starvation, and all that is related to imposing its authority to erase the rights of the Palestinian people, prevent them from establishing their Palestinian state and the right of return, by restricting UNRWA and attacking the camps, and making statements aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and unleashing settler groups in the West Bank to impose settlement realities that he believes may prevent the establishment of the Palestinian state.’ He pointed out that ‘Netanyahu refers to the post-war stage, where he bets on the non-establishment of a Palestinian state, while the conference emphasizes the need to act on the basis of ending the occupation, and adhering to international law, which highlights the importance of the conference in the presence of the world’s countries, and raising the voice to stop the war and the crimes of the occupation, and thwarting the displacement plans.’ He explained that ‘the conference coincides with the movements of the peoples of the world against the occupation, which confirms that the Palestinian cause occupies a prominent position on the global agenda, and emphasizes that the peoples of the world stand beside the struggle of the people, until they achieve independence and freedom, and stressed the importance of building on the conference and its results to achieve the rights of the Palestinian people, starting with stopping the war, aggression, and displacement, opening the crossings, lifting the siege, and until the establishment of the Palestinian state, and ending colonization.’ The works of the high-level international conference to resolve the Palestinian issue with peaceful solutions and implement the two-state solution began yesterday, Monday, with wide participation from countries, international organizations, and United Nations bodies. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said in his opening speech, ‘The Kingdom believes that the two-state solution is the key to regional stability,’ pointing out that it’s ‘a crucial step towards implementing the two-state solution.’ He added, ‘Achieving stability in the region begins by granting the Palestinian people their rights. The Arab Peace Initiative is a comprehensive foundation for any just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.’ He explained that ‘Saudi Arabia has secured with France the transfer of $300 million from the World Bank to Palestine.’ In the same context, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that civilian targeting is unacceptable, pointing out that the war in the sector has lasted too long and must stop. The conference is chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, while Palestine is represented by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The opening session was attended by UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkır, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and representatives of countries and international organizations. Saudi Arabia confirmed that its presidency is based on its firm positions in supporting Palestinian rights and working to achieve lasting peace, while France clarified that it will use the conference to call for international recognition of the state of Palestine, paving the way for French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of Paris’s intention to officially recognize the state of Palestine next September. It is noteworthy that Russia and China, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are among the countries that recognize Palestine.
