World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state

France and Saudi Arabia will convene dozens of world leaders on Monday to rally support for a two-state solution, with several of them expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state – a move that could draw harsh Israeli and U.S. responses.

Israel and the United States will boycott the summit, said Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon on Thursday, describing the event as a "circus."

Israel is considering annexing part of the occupied West Bank as a possible response and implementing specific bilateral measures against Paris, Israeli officials have said.

The U.S. administration has also warned of possible consequences for those who take measures against Israel.

Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday. France and five other states are expected to also formally recognize a Palestinian state on Monday.

Some have said there would be conditions and others have said normalization of diplomatic ties would be phased and dependent on how the Palestinian Authority advances in its promises to reform.

Israel has said it is opposed to the move and has no confidence in the 89-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas keeping pledges to reform and modernize as outlined in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year.

Abbas and dozens of Palestinian officials will attend the summit via video because the U.S. refused to issue visas.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not attending despite co-hosting the event. The General Assembly agreed on Friday – by consensus, without a vote – that he could appear via video at Monday's meeting.

"The world is saying out loud a Palestinian state and we need to materialize it. Now they need to show what these measures are," Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin told reporters on Sunday.

(With input from Reuters)