Admirers are calling it a "masterclass in diplomacy" that offers a true chance for peace in the Middle East. Critics say it is a selfish move, a "publicity stunt" to help burnish a country's international image more often in the headlines for human rights abuses.

So why is Saudi Arabia leading the charge for international recognition of a Palestinian state?

The current Saudi push for more countries to recognize Palestinian statehood actually began around a year ago. In September 2024, Saudi Arabia, together with Norway, announced the launch of a "Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution" and held the first two meetings in Riyadh.

In December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly voted to confirm again that most countries in the world believe the answer to problems between Israel and the Palestinian Territories is a two-state solution.

Last week, Saudi Arabia and France chaired a conference on the topic. During and after the meeting, multiple countries — France, Canada, Malta, the UK and Australia — announced they would definitely be, or were very seriously thinking about, recognizing a Palestinian state.

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The meeting also resulted in a seven-page document, the "New York Declaration," signed by all member states of the Arab League, as well as the EU and around 17 other countries.

The declaration outlines a phased path towards a two-state solution. It calls on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that led the incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, to disarm,

© Deutsche Welle