By: Fern Sidman

In a dramatic display of international consensus, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly this week to endorse a sweeping declaration laying out what it described as “tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. As reported in The Times of Israel on Friday, 142 countries backed the resolution, known as the New York Declaration, which was originally co-signed in July by 17 member states, including several Arab governments.

The measure, though non-binding, represents one of the most forceful multilateral attempts in recent years to push forward a Palestinian statehood agenda, pointedly excluding Hamas from any role in Gaza’s future governance. It calls not only for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state but also for Hamas to relinquish its weapons and authority in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA), underpinned by international involvement.

Israel and the United States, joined by a small bloc of allies—including Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Palau, Nauru, and Tonga—voted against the resolution. Twelve countries abstained.

According to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, the declaration enshrines a call for “collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution.”

It goes beyond generic references to peace negotiations. The document sets a roadmap for dismantling Hamas’s control of Gaza, stating unequivocally that, “Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State.”

The text also explicitly condemns the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas and demands the release of all hostages still held in Gaza. By including these provisions, the resolution reflects not only the longstanding consensus in favor of a two-state framework but also the urgency of reshaping Gaza’s political order in the wake of one of the most violent episodes in Israeli history.

Israel’s rejection of the measure was categorical. Officials in Jerusalem, as cited in The Times of Israel report, denounced the resolution as effectively rewarding terror. The Israeli government has consistently argued that premature recognition of Palestinian statehood—especially before the dismantling of Hamas and other terrorist groups—would embolden radicals and undermine Israel’s security.

In statements to the press, Israeli diplomats described the New York Declaration as “a dangerous illusion” that ignores the reality of ongoing violence and the existential threats Israel faces. They highlighted the declaration’s timing, coinciding with plans by French President Emmanuel Macron and several other world leaders to formally recognize Palestinian statehood during a high-profile summit in New York on September 22.

As The Times of Israel reported, Israeli officials characterized such moves as a “prize for terror,” insisting that recognition of a Palestinian state at this juncture validates the October 7 attacks and incentivizes further aggression.

The United States joined Israel in voting against the resolution, reiterating its longstanding position that Palestinian statehood must emerge from direct negotiations between the parties, not from unilateral measures or international dictates. American officials at the UN emphasized that while Washington remains committed to the principle of a two-state solution, it cannot support a declaration that attempts to predetermine final-status issues or bypass direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.

Yet, as The Times of Israel report noted, the U.S. stance left it diplomatically isolated. Even traditional allies in Europe largely voted in favor, reflecting growing frustration with Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and a perception that the conflict is destabilizing the broader region.

The resolution also builds momentum for an upcoming summit, co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, scheduled for September 22 at UN headquarters. French President Emmanuel Macron has already pledged to recognize a Palestinian state formally during the gathering. Other countries—including Spain, Ireland, and several in Latin America—have made similar promises in recent months.

As detailed in The Times of Israel report, Israel views this coordinated recognition campaign as profoundly dangerous. Officials warn that creating a Palestinian state in the current circumstances—without ironclad guarantees of demilitarization and without dismantling terror networks—risks creating a “second Gaza” in Judea and Samaria, leaving Israel exposed to rocket fire on its most densely populated heartlands.

The Arab League played a decisive role in shepherding the resolution to the General Assembly floor. By co-signing the New York Declaration, Arab states sought to underscore their rejection of Hamas’s continued rule in Gaza, even as they reaffirmed solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

This dual stance reflects a subtle but important recalibration. According to the information contained in The Times of Israel report, regional governments are increasingly wary of Hamas’s destabilizing role and its ties to Iran. At the same time, they are keen to channel international sympathy for Palestinians into tangible political outcomes—namely, recognition of Palestinian statehood and a formal roadmap toward independence.

European states overwhelmingly backed the resolution, driven both by humanitarian concerns over the war in Gaza and by a broader desire to reassert the relevance of multilateral diplomacy. For leaders like Macron, the September 22 summit offers an opportunity to position Europe as a central broker in Middle East peace, even as the United States remains Israel’s principal security partner.

As The Times of Israel report observed, European capitals appear convinced that internationalizing the process is the only way to break the deadlock, given years of failed bilateral negotiations and cycles of violence.

In response, Israel is mounting what The Times of Israel described as a “full-spectrum diplomatic counteroffensive.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have been urging allies to resist what they call “short-term political gains at the expense of long-term security.” They argue that recognition of Palestinian statehood now would undermine efforts to secure the release of hostages and embolden Iran’s regional proxies.

Israel’s envoys at the UN also reminded member states that the declaration, while non-binding, sets a dangerous precedent. By excluding Hamas rhetorically but failing to guarantee its elimination militarily, the resolution risks entrenching a Palestinian leadership vacuum that could be exploited by extremist factions.

Beyond the immediate politics, the New York Declaration signals the international community’s determination to redefine the contours of the conflict in ways that Israel finds deeply threatening. By linking statehood explicitly to Hamas’s removal from Gaza, the resolution seeks to decouple the Palestinian cause from militant Islamism. Yet, as The Times of Israel report pointed out, the mechanism for achieving this decoupling remains undefined.

How Hamas will be compelled to surrender its arms—and who will enforce this transition—are questions the declaration leaves unanswered. For Israel, the absence of concrete enforcement measures renders the resolution aspirational at best, reckless at worst.

All eyes now turn to the upcoming Riyadh-Paris summit. Macron has made clear his intent to recognize a Palestinian state, a step Israel views as crossing a diplomatic red line. Should multiple states follow suit, Jerusalem fears it could face unprecedented diplomatic isolation, even among Western allies.

The Times of Israel report emphasized that Israeli officials remain defiant, pledging to continue military operations in Gaza until Hamas is dismantled and hostages are freed—regardless of international pressure. Netanyahu himself has warned that no declaration, however sweeping, can erase Israel’s right to self-defense or dictate its security policies.

The overwhelming UN General Assembly vote for the New York Declaration reflects an undeniable shift in global sentiment, one that favors Palestinian statehood as an urgent, near-term objective. Yet for Israel and its staunchest ally, the United States, the declaration represents a perilous detour—one that risks legitimizing terror and undermining hard-won security principles.

As The Times of Israel report indicated, the fault lines are now drawn more starkly than ever: a world eager to enshrine Palestinian statehood through multilateral diplomacy, and an Israel determined to resist a dangerous reward for Hamas’s violence.