The New York Call - Foreign Ministers of 14 countries "willing to consider" recognition of the State of Palestine"

Editor's Note: "The New York Call" and the "New York Declaration" are separate but linked outcome documents from the UN Conference on Palestine.  The New York Call is a parallel document to the main outcome document, "The New York Declaration".  

The Call expresses willingness to recognize Palestine "as an essential step towards the two-State solution. "The Call" was  signed by  Foreign Ministers of 15 countries (Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain). 

Currently 147 UN member-states recognize the State of Palestine.  This represents 75% of UN membership. What is changing is the likelihood that more western states will join the majority.  

France and Malta have indicated that they will recognize Palestine in September.  The UK has made a similar but conditional commitment.  If all the signatories to the New York Call actually follow through, it will mean that 83% of UN members (162 of 193) recognize an independent Palestinian state. 

Note of course that recognition is only one relatively simple step forward.  The difficult steps remain: a lasting ceasefire, an end to occupation, agreed borders, economic independence, and creation of a government credible in the eyes of its people.   

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The Foreign Ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, issued the following statement:

“We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, condemn the heinous and antisemitic terrorist attack of October 7th, 2023;

“Demand an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access;

“Reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority;

“Express grave concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasize the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance;

Welcome the commitments made by the President of the Palestinian Authority on June 10th where he (i) condemns the October 7th terrorist attacks (ii) calls for the liberation of hostages and disarmament of Hamas (iii) commits to terminate the prisoner payment system (iv) commits to schooling reform, (v) commits to call for elections within a year to trigger generational renewal and (vi) accepts the principle of a demilitarized Palestinian State;

“Ahead of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government that will take place during the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025, we, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, have already recognized, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognize the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-State solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call;

“Urge countries who have not done so yet to establish normal relations with Israel, and to express their willingness to enter into discussions on the regional integration of the State of Israel;

“Express our determination to work on an architecture for the ‘day after’ in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance.”