Conference on two-state solution concludes general debate at UN

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Conference on two-state solution concludes general debate at UN

2025-07-31 13:22 Last Updated At：17:37

The high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution concluded its general debate at the UN headquarters on Wednesday.

An outcome document was circulated to delegations for consideration, and the conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, will reconvene at a later date to take action on the text of the document.

The three-day conference, mandated by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, was originally scheduled for June but was postponed following the outbreak of the conflict between Iran and Israel. Several countries have announced their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, including Britain and Singapore.

Refusing to participate in the conference, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Danny Danon called it "a circus."

"Well, it's a circus. We know that. We now have real negotiations on the framework of a ceasefire. The last thing we need now is to have this circus and empty declarations. And if you want to be productive, you should help Israel and the U.S. to bring the hostages back and to get rid of Hamas. That's the first thing you should do before you think about the future in the region," said Danon.

Asked whether Israel still supports the two-state solution, Danon said, "I think today no one in Israel will even discuss it. So anyone in Israel that will consider that will be detached from reality. First, we have to bring the hostages back. Second, we have to get rid of Hamas. And then the time will come to negotiate the future."

Although representatives of over 120 countries attended the conference, Danon said it would bring no tangible results.

"First of all, they expected to have many more countries and many more heads of state, and we have seen the results. And second, I think many people, when you speak with them, they will know that nothing will happen from this conference," said Danon.

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, said that the conference brought the Palestinian people a hope for a "political horizon" that requires the end of illegal occupation by Israel.

"We expected to create enough collective pressure by the international community on Israel to stop this genocide against our people. This conference is giving the Palestinian people hope that there should be a political horizon that requires the end of this illegal occupation as quickly as possible, and allowing the State of Palestine to enjoy its sovereign independence on the land of the State of Palestine," said Mansour.

"We believe that civilians should not be harmed, especially children, in any conflict. And above all, we believe that these very complicated issues and conflicts should be resolved peacefully. We are ready and willing. The other side is insisting in denying our existence and our rights, and using force to kill the largest number of Palestinians, thinking that they can deny the existence of the Palestinian nation and the Palestinian state, and although we are paying tremendous amount of price, they will not succeed," said Mansour.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has topped 60,000, with 140,000 injured, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday. Among the deceased, children and women accounted for nearly half.

Economy, market remain stable in Yemen's Aden despite escalating violence

Yemen's temporary capital Aden is showing resilience and stability in economy, with market operations and public services running smoothly despite a recent escalation in the region's volatile military and political situation.

Currently, various essential supplies, including grain, oil, food and everyday items, are consistently available on the markets.

Public services such as water, electricity and communications are also functioning normally, and shops in multiple commercial districts remain open.

"We went out to buy household items today. The prices were the same. There was no rise in prices," said Mohamed Naguib, a resident.

The current market stability is attributed to the efficient functioning of the transportation and logistics systems, as well as the government's ongoing efforts to enhance market oversight and regulate prices, which have helped reduce market volatility, according to analysts.

"Although there are some rumors about rising tensions, the overall situation in Aden remains stable. The industry and commerce department has continued to monitor the market and rigorously control prices to prevent increases in commodity and food costs," said Amjad Al-Husseini, director of the Aden Governor's Office.

The city's monetary circulation system has also largely maintained balance, with the exchange rate of the local currency against major foreign currencies remaining relatively stable.

Aden has long been a flashpoint in the country's civil war, which erupted in 2014 when Houthi forces seized much of the north, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in the following year. Tensions in the south have persisted despite repeated power-sharing deals.

The tensions further escalated last month after the United Arab Emirates-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized large swathes of Yemen's oil-rich Hadramout province and the eastern province of Al-Mahrah. Riyadh considers these areas as a "red line" due to their proximity to the Saudi border and their concentration of Yemen's remaining energy reserves.

Last week, airstrikes and ground operations by the Saudi-led coalition forced the STC forces to withdraw from the two provinces.

Formed in 2017, the STC seeks autonomy and eventual independence for southern Yemen. Although it joined the Saudi-led coalition and became part of the Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council in 2022, the group's push for southern self-rule has continued to fuel disputes over power-sharing and control of territory and resources.