Brussels (UNA/SPA) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway today chaired the ninth meeting of the International Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held under the slogan “How do we move towards peace in the aftermath of the Gaza war?” with the participation of representatives of 83 countries and international organizations.
The Kingdom was represented at the meeting hosted by the European Union in partnership with the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels,
Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Manal bint Hassan Radwan, stressed during her speech that the current challenge is to transform the fragile ceasefire into irreversible progress towards peace, and that security and a political solution are inseparable, and any stability without a credible political horizon will be temporary and unsustainable.
She noted that implementing Security Council Resolution (2803) and the comprehensive plan, and supporting the Peace Council’s efforts, provides a real window for aligning the ceasefire, humanitarian relief, governance, security, and reconstruction tracks within an integrated framework.
She also stressed the need to ensure the full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, with the importance of progress in early recovery and reconstruction efforts in a way that prevents duplication, emphasizing the Kingdom’s full support for the reform program led by the Palestinian government in preparation for its return to the Gaza Strip within the framework of preserving the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, and that stability cannot be a substitute for sovereignty.
The Kingdom’s representative at the meeting pointed out that disarmament must be addressed within a broader political and institutional framework based on legitimacy and with a clear ultimate goal of embodying the Palestinian state, stressing that the situation in the West Bank is witnessing a dangerous escalation that threatens the two-state solution, and emphasizing that protecting Palestinian civilians is a fundamental element in any effort to achieve stability.
Dr. Manal Radwan emphasized the Kingdom’s support for initiatives that promote protection, the rule of law, and capacity building for Palestinian institutions, including support for the police and justice sectors, while clarifying that any security arrangements will not be sustainable without respect for international law and rejection of measures that entrench the occupation.
She stressed that the role of the international stabilization force should be time-bound and supportive of Palestinian institutions, not a replacement for them, that regional security cannot be separated from Palestinian security, and that achieving sustainable peace requires a more comprehensive framework that addresses mutual security concerns, respects sovereignty, and prevents escalation.
In concluding her remarks, the Kingdom’s representative at the meeting affirmed that the New York Declaration represents an important reference for linking security arrangements to a credible political path towards the realization of the Palestinian state, and that any effort for stability must lead to the realization of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to working with its partners in the coalition to achieve a just and comprehensive peace.
The Director of the Arab Mashreq Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Counselor Mohammed Al-Harbi, participated in the meeting.
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