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U.K., Canada, Australia and Portugal Recognize Palestine as France–Saudi UN Summit Opens

Backers cast recognition as leverage to restart a two‑state process.

Overview

  • Israel and the United States are boycotting the New York meeting, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the recognitions a reward for terrorism and vowing there will be no Palestinian state.
  • France is hosting the high‑level conference with Saudi Arabia and has signaled it will move to recognition, with additional European governments expected to follow during UN General Assembly week.
  • Israeli officials have hinted at retaliatory steps including expanded West Bank settlement activity, and far‑right ministers urged annexation, a move the United Arab Emirates warned would carry major consequences.
  • The Trump administration opposes unilateral recognitions, declined to join the conference, and has moved to deny or revoke visas for Palestinian officials ahead of the UN gathering.
  • Governments framing recognition as a tool to revive diplomacy acknowledge the step is largely symbolic, as roughly three‑quarters of UN members already recognize Palestinian statehood and the Gaza humanitarian crisis grinds on; Palestinian leaders welcomed the new endorsements.