TEHRAN – Israel and the United States appear to have become more isolated following the approval of a United Nations General Assembly resolution that paves the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The resolution, backed by 142 countries and opposed by only 10—including the U.S.—was adopted on Friday. It endorsed the "New York Declaration," a framework put forward in July by France and Saudi Arabia that reaffirms support for a two-state solution.

The declaration’s approval is expected to set the stage for a one-day UN conference on the two-state solution, scheduled in New York just ahead of the General Assembly’s high-level week. At the meeting, several countries—including France, the UK, Canada, and Australia—are expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state.

Germany and Italy remain the two large European countries holding out against recognition of a Palestinian state, although Italy’s coalition government is increasingly divided on the issue. Meanwhile, five European countries have already banned all imports from illegal Israeli settlements.

The Friday vote came less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel would never accept a Palestinian state.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Western countries’ plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the General Assembly, warning that such moves would push Tel Aviv to take unspecified reciprocal measures.

Currently, around three-quarters of the 193 UN member states recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed in 1988 by the exiled Palestinian leadership.

The resolution comes amid Israel’s ongoing regional escalation and its devastating war on Gaza. Israel’s killing of more than 64,000 Palestinians since the war broke out in October 2023 has already underscored its growing international isolation. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, as well as by human rights groups, including some inside Israel. The Netanyahu government’s recent attack on Qatar has further deepened this isolation. All 15 members of the UN Security Council condemned the strike, while Doha is preparing to host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Sunday and Monday that is expected to become a platform for regional unity against Israel.

Against the backdrop of these developments, the General Assembly’s Friday vote bears considerable significance. It highlights a widening rift between Israel and much of the international community. While the U.S. continues to shield Israel diplomatically and militarily, its position is increasingly out of step with the global consensus, raising questions about the sustainability of its influence on Middle East diplomacy. For Israel, this trend signals the erosion of its traditional diplomatic safety net, while for the U.S., it risks deepening perceptions of hypocrisy on international law and human rights, potentially weakening its standing in other geopolitical arenas.