At the opening session of the international conference held at the United Nations headquarters, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the critical issue of achieving a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
Guterres emphasized that “the only realistic, just, and sustainable solution for Israelis and Palestinians is the existence of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, within recognized borders based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.”
However, he warned that “time is running out as trust erodes day by day, institutions weaken, and hopes fade.”
He also condemned the “massive destruction in Gaza as unbearable and in need of immediate cessation” and stated that “unilateral actions that would permanently undermine the two-state solution are unacceptable.”
Describing the conference as “a rare and irreplaceable opportunity,” Guterres stressed, “We must ensure that this does not become another exercise in well-intentioned rhetoric.”
He concluded, “It can and must be a defining turning point, a moment that will trigger irreversible progress towards ending the occupation and achieving our shared goal of a viable two-state solution.”
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
