Policy

The UAE and the Palestinian Cause: A Historic Commitment to Advancing the Two-State Solution


The United Arab Emirates has been actively supporting the Palestinian cause on various levels and pushing for a clear path toward a permanent and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

These efforts reflect the UAE’s long-standing commitment to Palestine, a cornerstone of its foreign policy since the nation’s founding.

Among the latest initiatives, the UAE participated in a high-level international conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, held at the UN headquarters in New York. The event was jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, with broad international and regional participation.

During its participation, the UAE outlined a roadmap to sustainable peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict and stressed the urgent need to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Leadership Consultations

The UAE’s roadmap is part of sustained diplomatic and political efforts that have intensified since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, including:

  • Leadership-level discussions by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
    On June 27, he met with António Costa, President of the European Council, to discuss regional and international developments, particularly in the Middle East. They emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians and to alleviate their suffering. They also stressed the importance of intensified international efforts to advance a clear path to lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

Diplomatic Engagement

  • Ongoing diplomatic efforts led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE diplomats, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two days ago, Sheikh Abdullah welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of his country’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it a step that strengthens the international community’s efforts to achieve the two-state solution and establish a just and lasting peace.

The UAE expressed appreciation for this critical decision, urging the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by reviving the political process and ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This would contribute to regional stability and support the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights—most importantly, the establishment of an independent, sovereign state in accordance with UN resolutions and international agreements.

The UAE reiterated its unwavering support for the aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people and its continued cooperation with regional and global partners to reach a just and sustainable solution to the conflict.

Comprehensive Roadmap

  • UAE initiatives within international forums such as the UN Security Council, General Assembly, Human Rights Council, International Court of Justice, and various global conferences.

At the aforementioned conference, UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar highlighted growing global consensus on the need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. He noted the increasing momentum for recognizing the State of Palestine, with President Macron’s upcoming announcement at the UN General Assembly in September serving as a major boost toward a just and lasting peace.

He emphasized that while charting a course for the two-state solution is crucial, the immediate priority remains halting the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the deteriorating conditions in the West Bank, and the escalation of violence by Israeli settlers.

Al Marar described Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as unprecedented and critical, calling for unified global action. He highlighted the UAE’s leading role in delivering life-saving aid to the Palestinian people by land, sea, and air, including airdrops and convoys.

Alongside addressing the humanitarian crisis, he called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and collective efforts to end the war in Gaza and pave the way for a lasting resolution.

He presented a four-point roadmap for sustainable peace:

  1. Promote a strong political will that acknowledges the two-state solution as the only realistic path to sustainable peace through serious negotiations under regional and international sponsorship.
  2. Prevent recurring violence by adopting a binding, irreversible roadmap for establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel, with all parties committed to its implementation.
  3. Ensure the roadmap addresses reform, governance, and security, empowering a legitimate and capable Palestinian authority to monopolize arms, uphold the rule of law, and fight extremism and terrorism.
  4. Include a regional and international dimension in the peace process that fosters solidarity, combats extremism, ends the cycle of violence, builds stability, and promotes development and prosperity for all peoples of the region—including both Palestinians and Israelis.

Diplomatic efforts in international forums

As part of its active engagement on the international stage to support the two-state solution and advance peace, the United Arab Emirates welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, on 18 September 2024, of a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within one year.

The UAE also submitted a draft resolution supporting Palestine’s eligibility for full UN membership during an emergency special session of the General Assembly, in its capacity as Chair of the Arab Group for May 2024. The resolution passed with overwhelming support, marking a historic step toward peace and the realization of the two-state solution.

International Court of Justice

On 20 July of the previous year, the UAE welcomed the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which found that Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem violate international law.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the UAE’s rejection of any measures that seek to alter the historical and legal status quo in the occupied Palestinian territories, and of all practices that violate international resolutions. Such actions, the ministry stated, only fuel escalation and hinder prospects for peace and stability.

The ministry emphasized the need to support all regional and international efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East, and to put an end to unlawful actions that jeopardize the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In February 2024, Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, addressed the International Court of Justice in The Hague, calling for the recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the advancement of the two-state solution.

Her statement came in response to the UN General Assembly’s request for the Court to issue an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

A longstanding commitment

The UAE’s diplomatic efforts are part of a longstanding and consistent support for the Palestinian cause, a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy since its establishment in 1971.

This diplomatic momentum has been accompanied by a strong humanitarian role played by the UAE in support of Palestine and Gaza, reviving memories of the founding leader, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Following in his footsteps, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan continues to demonstrate unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people through both words and action.

 

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