Saudi Troika and Two-State Solution: From July Summit to September Peace Conference
By: Magdi Sadek
For more than eight decades, negotiations toward a two-state solution have stagnated, mired in endless conflict, crises, wars, and destruction—all at the expense of the Palestinian people.
Successive cycles of violence have repeatedly crushed any hope of a solution before it could take shape.
Now, Saudi diplomacy is stepping into the void—armed with a strategy akin to blitzkrieg (a term of German origin meaning “lightning war”), characterized by rapid, successive diplomatic strikes.
With growing international anticipation, Riyadh is working to chart a concrete path forward for the long-elusive two-state solution, laying the groundwork for a pivotal international peace conference scheduled for the second half of September.
Saudi-Led Troika Lays Groundwork in New York
At the heart of this push is Saudi Arabia’s leadership, represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who co-chaired a high-level meeting at the United Nations on 28 July alongside French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
The two-day conference was part of a tripartite initiative—including Egypt, which was absent from the event—to outline a roadmap for the Palestinian cause and to relaunch the two-state solution.
As part of their efforts, Saudi Arabia and France secured the transfer of $300 million from the World Bank to support Palestinian institutions.
In a speech during the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres thanked both nations, calling the summit “a unique opportunity” to harness international momentum for peace.
But the geopolitical stakes are high. U.S. President Donald Trump, during a visit to Scotland, where he toured his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire, was urged by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognize a Palestinian state.
Trump, who once said, “What matters to me is the humanitarian hunger of the Palestinians,” has thus far remained unmoved.
Observers say it’s unlikely he will shift his position, particularly after dismissing French President Emmanuel Macron’s recognition of a Palestinian state as “irrelevant.”
Trump’s own 2020 “Deal of the Century” was widely criticized for favoring Israel.
Still, shifts in international policy are possible—even dramatic ones.
Trump once promised to bring peace to the Middle East and end the decades-long bloodshed. Could that promise be resurrected?
Riyadh’s Consistent Support for the Palestinian Cause
Saudi Arabia’s engagement is grounded in its long-standing support for the Palestinian people and its advocacy for a just and comprehensive peace based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
This commitment, however, needs to be supported by coordinated Arab diplomacy and strong political will to sustain momentum after the upcoming peace conference.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in remarks earlier this year, underscored the suffering of the Palestinian people and called on the international community to end Israel’s aggression and create a new reality for Palestine, in line with international resolutions.
Historically, Saudi Arabia has played a prominent role in the Palestinian cause, dating back to King Abdulaziz Al Saud’s participation in the 1935 London Round Table Conference and his 1945 letter to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlining the Palestinian plight.
The Kingdom has participated in numerous Arab League summits, championed the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative under then-Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and led regional and international efforts to revive the two-state solution.
In September 2023, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of an international coalition for the two-state solution in collaboration with the Arab League, European Union, Egypt, and Jordan.
The Kingdom has also provided over $6 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestinians, including $500 million in 2014 to rebuild Gaza. Its support has included initiatives by King Salman—when he was governor of Riyadh—to assist the families of Palestinian fighters and establish a structured honor registry for donations.
Challenges Ahead for the September Conference
Originally scheduled for June 2025, the New York peace conference was postponed due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
It now comes amid a renewed international push for the two-state solution, with the Palestinian Authority stating that it sees “strong indicators” of growing global support—even as internal divisions, particularly the need for reconciliation between Palestinian factions and the disarmament of Hamas, remain major obstacles.
While not explicitly addressed at the July conference, these internal challenges—alongside the external ones—remain key hurdles. Chief among them is the U.S. and Israeli boycott of the initiative.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has called on Trump to intervene and end the war in Gaza, as he possesses the necessary capabilities and stature, he is the only one capable of stopping the war and ending this suffering.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during his meeting with Trump, emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state would be a concrete step toward lasting peace.
Some analysts believe that U.S.-Saudi relations could be leveraged to overcome opposition to the conference’s outcomes, though ongoing Israeli settlement expansion and efforts to weaken the Palestinian Authority pose significant challenges.
A Historic Opportunity
Despite the obstacles, many see the September conference as a potential turning point—a “decisive platform” to revive and institutionalize momentum for peace.
Its outcomes should not end when the summit concludes but must be embedded into international and humanitarian agendas aimed at ending the deadly conflict.
Today, more than 140 of the UN’s 193 member states recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. France is expected to join them in September during the upcoming peace summit in New York, which will coincide with the high-level meetings of the 80th UN General Assembly. While some speculate the summit could move to Paris, the picture remains fluid.
What is clear is that international recognition of a Palestinian state is gathering unprecedented steam—and Saudi Arabia appears determined to ensure that momentum is not lost.
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