Morocco has reiterated its position regarding the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, insisting that “the two-state solution is the Only path to peace”
The position was reiterated by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat on Tuesday, at the opening of the 5th meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organized by Morocco and the Netherlands.
“Beyond condemnations and denunciations, Morocco is working concretely to bring positions closer toward a sustainable solution. Our country has always believed that there is no other solution than the coexistence of two states, Israeli and Palestinian, living side by side,” Bourita said, insisting that this is “the only solution likely to guarantee peace and security in the region…The two-state solution is the only option in which there are no losers, because everyone wins: the Palestinians gain their freedom and dignity, the Israelis secure their security and stability, while the entire region gets opportunities for development and progress.”
“The two-state solution is the one that can ensure lasting peace in the region, based on widely recognized international references,” Nasser Bourita added.
Around fifty ministers, including the Palestinian Authority’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Varsen Agabekian Shahin, senior political officials, and special envoys of countries from Europe, Africa, Asia, as well as other stakeholders and representatives of international and regional organizations, committed to the Two- State Solution took part in the event organized under the theme “Sustaining the Peace Process Momentum: Lessons Learned, Achievements, and Prospects.”
Bourita stated further that “this gathering falls within the framework of Morocco’s ongoing commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in support of the Palestinian cause and peace in the Middle East.” It also aligns with Morocco’s decades-long efforts “to promote a sustainable and comprehensive solution in the Middle East, based on the deep conviction that such a solution can only be achieved through the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel, within the framework of a two-state solution. This 5th meeting is also being held in Morocco because the country has always taken a pragmatic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Bourita stressed.
The Minister stressed that the Two-State solution is neither an empty slogan nor a pretext for diplomatic posturing, but a moral commitment and a realistic political option that can no longer be postponed or subject to hesitation.
“In this context, wars have been waged and violence has afflicted all parties, never bringing about peace or lasting security. Today, it is imperative to translate this choice into a roadmap with a clear timeline and responsible steps,” he added.
It is evident that “some do lose from the implementation of this solution: extremists on all sides, who thrive on the conflict and live in its shadow. Also, among the losers are those who trade in slogans and claim to support the Palestinian people without offering even a bag of rice, simply because they prefer the comfort of opposition over the responsibility of action.”
After he recalled that the two-state solution is endorsed by the international community despite the succession of crises, he said this option remains the only possible horizon for a just and lasting settlement allowing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, Moroccan diplomacy continues to work with determination and serenity to bring points of view closer together and increase the chances of a just peace, said the minister, recalling the royal speech addressed to the latest Arab summit convened in Bagdad.
In his speech, the Monarch had called for an immediate cessation of military operations and a return to the negotiating table. He also stressed the urgent need for an intervention to put an end to the Israeli military aggressions in the West Bank, to ensure the continued provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Bourita stressed the importance of the Global Alliance’s approach to implementing the two-state solution seeking to build a promising future for the region, and lauded the leading role played by Saudi Arabia, Norway and the European Union in leading this global Alliance.
France, for its part, sent a clear message through Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Paris has expressed its determination to recognize a Palestinian state. This decision is expected to be announced at the international conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place next June 17 to 20, with the aim of reviving a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, known as the “two-state solution.”
The agenda of the 5th meeting of the Alliance featured debates and presentations focusing on the impact of peace processes in the Middle East, efforts to support governance structures of the Palestinian state, and the economic foundations of peace in the region.
The meeting’s recommendations will be submitted to the High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution, scheduled in New York in June 2025.