Germany is reportedly set to endorse the New York Declaration regarding a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. According to a report in the German newspaper “Welt” the endorsement was communicated to the United States last Saturday. A resolution to formally adopt the declaration is expected to be put to a vote in the UN General Assembly later this week.
The New York Declaration, adopted in late July at an international conference chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, condemns the Hamas attack on October 17, 2023, which resulted in over 1,000 casualties, primarily civilians and calls for the terrorist organization to disarm. Article 39 of the declaration addresses the refugee issue within the context of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state, reiterating the “right of return.
Israeli politicians across the political spectrum have voiced concerns regarding the comprehensive implementation of a right of return. They project that if the statement encompasses all Palestinians who fled or were displaced after 1948 and their descendants, it could potentially legitimize the immigration of nearly six million Palestinians into Israel, leading to a Jewish minority within the state.
The German Foreign Ministry, according to the report, maintains that the issue of return should be resolved through direct negotiations between the conflict parties. This position, it asserts, has been and remains the German government’s stance. Successive German governments, including the current administration led by Merz, have repeatedly expressed hope for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. In past negotiations between the two sides, partial or symbolic returns of Palestinian refugees have been discussed.
