Palestinian, Saudi leaders discuss New York peace summit, international recognition campaign

RAMALLAH, Palestine/ISTANBUL

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone Monday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss preparations for next month’s peace summit in New York and a growing international campaign to recognize a Palestinian state.

Abbas thanked Riyadh for its consistent support for Palestinian rights and briefed the crown prince on political developments, including the Sept. 22 summit, which will bring together world leaders to address the conflict, the official news agency Wafa reported.

Talks also focused on recent diplomatic gains for Palestinian statehood, with France, the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and other countries either announcing or signaling their readiness to grant recognition.

Abbas said these steps boost prospects for achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on ways that serve shared priorities and bolster Arab and international solidarity with the Palestinian people, Wafa said.

Earlier Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country intends to recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

In late July, 15 Western nations, including France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Portugal, issued a joint appeal for recognition of Palestine and for a ceasefire in Gaza. Days earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would extend recognition in September if Israel fails to take “substantial steps” toward ending the crisis, while French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed Paris would do so during the UN gathering.

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed 61,500 people since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.