U.S. and Israel against the world as Palestine dominates UN week
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Leaders and diplomats from more than 140 countries will convene on Monday in New York to advocate for a Palestinian state and peace in Gaza.
- There will be three notable absences: Israel, the U.S., and Palestinian leaders themselves, because the Trump administration banned them.
Why it matters: Recognition of Palestine by a wave of countries — including the U.S. and Israel's closest allies — will be the dominant topic this week at the UN General Assembly. President Trump will be the only major world leader still standing by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's side.
The intrigue: Netanyahu, who vehemently opposes a Palestinian state, will visit Trump in Washington after the assembly to seek his blessing for a strong response.
- The most extreme option under discussion is the annexation of most or all of the occupied West Bank.
Driving the news: On Sunday, the U.K., Canada and Australia jointly announced recognition of Palestine. They were joined later by Portugal, bringing the total number of countries now recognizing Palestine over 150.
- French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to follow suit on Monday, when he co-chairs a peace summit alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At least five more countries will also announce recognition.
The big picture: During his first term, Trump supported a two-state solution and even presented a peace plan that included a Palestinian state. But after the Oct. 7 attacks, he said "the situation has changed."
- His second administration has taken arguably the most anti-Palestinian stance in U.S. history. Trump has used the very word "Palestinian" as an insult.
- Trump hasn't loudly opposed the wave of recognitions himself, leaving that fight to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Rubio instructed U.S. diplomats around the world to lobby countries against recognizing Palestine or participating in the French-Saudi conference — with almost zero success, U.S. officials and European diplomats say.
The other side: Israel's unrelenting war in Gaza, its attacks on seven different countries since Oct. 7, and the extreme policies of Netanyahu's hard-right government have left Israel more isolated globally than ever.
- Netanyahu attacked the leaders of the U.K., Canada, Australia and France for awarding "an absurd prize" to Hamas on Sunday, but Israel's full response won't come until after he visits the White House next Monday.
Behind the scenes: Netanyahu wants a green light from Trump before moving forward with any annexations, Israeli officials say.
- Last week, Netanyahu told Rubio in their one-on-one meeting in Jerusalem that he's looking at different options for annexation, and is under pressure from his coalition partners to annex all of "Area C," two U.S. officials said. That would mean declaring 60% of the West Bank to be Israeli territory.
- U.S. officials say at the moment there's no appetite for Israeli annexations within the Trump administration, especially because such steps could undermine the Abraham Accords.
- Rubio told Netanyahu the U.S. would prefer the focus be on ending the war in Gaza, getting the hostages out, and agreeing on a day-after plan.
What's next: During Monday's conference, the participants are expected to endorse a post-war plan for Gaza stating that Hamas must disarm and have no role in future governance.
- While the Trump administration took the unprecedented step of revoking the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation before the assembly, an overwhelming majority of countries voted to allow him to address the UN by video.
- Trump is expected to address the war in Gaza during his speech on Tuesday morning.
- Netanyahu will speak on Friday. He's likely to get a frosty reception.
What to watch: On Tuesday, Trump will hold a meeting in New York with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to discuss how to end the war.
- Two Arab officials with direct knowledge said the White House told the invited leaders that Trump intends to present them with the U.S. principles for peace.
- "Our understanding is that Trump wants to get our feedback and support for the U.S. plan to end the war and then push it forward," one Arab official said.
