The Saudi capital, Riyadh, will host a high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the “Two-State Solution” next Wednesday and Thursday, which includes diplomats and envoys from several countries and regional and international organizations, to present a specific timetable for building and implementing the Palestinian state and the two-state solution on the path to permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will deliver a welcoming speech at the beginning of the meeting, followed by a speech by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Last September, Saudi Arabia announced, on behalf of Arab and Islamic countries and European partners, the launch of the “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution,” during the ministerial meeting on the Palestinian issue and peace efforts, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to informed sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Riyadh meeting, which is the first high-level “follow-up meeting,” aims to collect practical inputs, present them at a high political level, provide an overview of all proposed components under the umbrella of the global alliance, and begin practical preparation.

Further follow-up meetings, starting in Riyadh, followed by Brussels, Cairo, Amman, Oslo, Ankara and possibly elsewhere, are expected to focus on a number of specific elements of the global coalition’s work to implement the two-state solution.

The Riyadh meeting also aims to achieve tangible results on how to deliver the outcomes of the meetings to the political level and implement them, and to provide a specific timetable for building and implementing the Palestinian state and the two-state solution, in addition to taking measures to preserve the possibility of the two-state solution, including how to ensure accountability with regard to international law, and implement all relevant UN resolutions.

According to the same sources, by hosting the meeting, the Kingdom is working in full partnership with the other initiators of the Global Alliance: the members of the Joint Contact Group between the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Gaza (Bahrain, Jordan, Indonesia, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), in addition to the European Union and Norway.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat sources, the Riyadh meeting will also focus on UNRWA’s work as the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza today, and the backbone of the humanitarian response until the two-state solution is implemented.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan had stressed during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly meetings last September that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is an inherent and fundamental right for peace, and not a final outcome negotiated within a far-fetched political process.

He said: “We affirm our appreciation for the countries that have recently recognized Palestine, and we call on all countries to be courageous and take the same decision, and join the international consensus represented by the 149 countries that recognize Palestine. Implementing the two-state solution is the best solution to break the cycle of conflict and suffering, and enforce a new reality in which the entire region, including Israel, enjoys security and coexistence.”

The Minister concluded his speech by announcing the launch of the “International Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” saying: “Today, on behalf of the Arab and Islamic countries and our European partners, we announce the launch of the (International Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution), and we invite you to join this initiative, stressing that we will do our utmost to achieve a reliable and irreversible path to a just and comprehensive peace. We look forward to hearing what you have to contribute to ending this conflict, in order to preserve international peace and security.”