A: Hey there! Have you heard about the news?
B: Nope, what's up?

A: So, there was this UN conference in New York, right? They were trying to find a solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict.

B: Oh, really? What did they decide?

A: Well, they released something called the New York Declaration. It says that the only way to make both Israelis and Palestinians happy is by having a two-state solution. They also want Hamas to stop ruling in Gaza and hand over their weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

B: Wow, that sounds serious! What else did they say?

A: They also asked Israel to stop building new settlements and taking land from the Palestinians. The Saudi Foreign Minister said this will bring peace and security for everyone. But since Israel and the US weren't there, it's not clear if anyone will support it.

B: That's too bad. What did Japan decide about all of this?

A: Well, our special representative, Uemura Tsukasa, spoke at the conference. He said that Japan is going to think more about recognizing a Palestinian state and when would be the best time for it.
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A UN conference statement has called for the Islamic group Hamas to disarm and for the establishment of a Palestinian state.



The conference in New York was aimed at advancing steps toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The New York Declaration was released on Tuesday by France and Saudi Arabia, co-chairs of the meeting attended by more than 100 countries.



The outcome document says a two-state solution is "the only way to satisfy the legitimate aspirations, in accordance with international law, of both Israelis and Palestinians."



It says the Gaza Strip must be unified with the West Bank, and urges Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.



The document also calls on Israel's leaders to "immediately halt all settlement, land grabs and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem."



Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the document guarantees "peace and security for all." He called for support for the text ahead of a new session of the UN General Assembly in September.



With Israel and the United States absent from the conference, it is unclear how much support the document will draw.



Japan's Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Uemura Tsukasa spoke at the conference on Tuesday. The special representative of the Japanese government said that taking into account the outcomes of the meeting, Japan will "continue a comprehensive assessment of the issue of recognizing Palestinian statehood, including the appropriate timing."
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Quiz 1:
What was the aim of the conference in New York?
A. To discuss the climate change
B. To advance steps toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict
C. To discuss the economic situation in Europe
D. To discuss the nuclear program in North Korea

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 1: B

Quiz 2:
According to the New York Declaration, what is the only way to satisfy the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, according to international law?
A. One-state solution
B. Three-state solution
C. Two-state solution
D. Four-state solution

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 2: C

Quiz 3:
The document calls on Israel to immediately halt all settlement, land grabs and annexation activities in which territory?
A. Occupied Arab Territories
B. East Jerusalem
C. Syrian territories
D. Lebanese territories

[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 3: A