Riyadh Co-Chair Statement on Efforts to Implement the Two-state Solution, including the Recognition of the Palestinian State

Riyadh, April 30, 2024, SPA -- HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and HE Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Foreign Minister of Norway co-chaired the meeting between the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab- Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in the Gaza Strip and European Foreign Ministers and representatives on 29 April 2024 in Riyadh, to discuss the urgent need to end the war in Gaza and to take steps to implement the two-state solution.
The meeting was attended by Algeria, Bahrain, Belgium, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, League of Arab States, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
The meeting expressed strong support to the efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages, and an end to the Gaza war, all illegal unilateral actions and violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem; as well as addressing the ongoing catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, the importance of moving the conflict into a political track was underscored to enable a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In this light, concrete steps towards realization of a Palestinian State in the context of the two-state solution were discussed. An increased urgency to take such steps and the importance of coordinating positions were emphasized. The meeting also discussed the question of recognition of a Palestinian State by countries who have not yet done so, and the timing and context of such recognition.
The meeting emphasized the importance of the need to adopt a holistic approach towards a credible irreversible track for the implementation of the two-state solution. This needs to be in accordance with international law and agreed parameters, including United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, among other initiatives. The objective is to achieve a just and lasting peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people and the security of Israel and the region. In return, this will pave the way for normal relations between countries in a region, where stability, security, peace and cooperation prevail.
The meeting also stressed the need for intensified state building efforts, support to the new Palestinian Government and the importance of having one Palestinian Government for the West Bank including East Jerusalem and Gaza.
-- SPA