UN General Assembly Decided to Resume the High-Level Conference on Palestine Statehood on 22 September 2025

Seventy-ninth Session,
94th & 95th Meetings (AM & PM)

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Resumption of High-Level Conference on Palestine Statehood

The Assembly, acting without a vote, decided to resume the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on 22 September during the 193-member organ’s upcoming eightieth session.  Introducing a draft oral decision, the representative of Saudi Arabia recalled the suspension of that Conference on 30 July, emphasizing that “the situation on the ground in Palestine has never been more dire” and “it is precisely at this moment that the momentum towards peace must be maintained”.

Israel’s delegate, however, questioned the move, pointing out that resolution 79/81 — which mandated the Conference — contained no provision for its suspension or resumption.  He also raised concerns about the procedural basis for the July suspension, the financial regulations that should have applied when the meeting extended beyond its originally mandated two days, and the programme budget implications of the new proposal.

Responding, a representative of the Secretariat said that General Assembly entitlements had been used to cover the third day of the Conference in July and would likewise apply to the resumed meeting in September.

After the adoption, Israel’s delegate dissociated from the decision, expressing concerns about its procedure and substance.  The text was rushed through, and delegations were not given time to consider it fully.  The Assembly must not succumb to “procedure bullying”, he said, adding that the text is not “an attempt at peacemaking; it is a performance, nothing more than a publicity stunt”.  Noting that Hamas welcomed France’s recent pledge on the issue of Palestinian statehood, he said:  “When terrorists are the ones cheering you on, you are on the wrong side of history.” The oral decision threatens “to prolong the war, embolden Hamas and undermine real diplomatic efforts”, he said.

Also dissociating from this decision, the representative of the United States said she was “surprised and dismayed” about the lack of transparency with which this proposal was treated. The Conference is “an ill-timed publicity stunt” that “will prolong the war, embolden Hamas and undermine efforts to achieve peace”, she said.  Her country will continue to lead “real-world efforts to end the fighting”, she added.

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