Navigating a fractured world: Global Town Hall 2026 to examine Palestinian statehood

John Luis Soriano

In a world increasingly marked by conflict and division, the question of Palestinian statehood remains at the center of international diplomacy. This September 19, Global Town Hall 2026 will bring that question to the forefront through a featured discussion on Palestine’s path from aspiration to reality.

Organized by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), the annual virtual dialogue will carry the theme, “Calling for a Global U-Turn: Recentering Development, Reclaiming Humanity, Restoring Justice in a Crazi(er) World.”

At the heart of its program is “From Aspiration to Reality: Prospects and Challenges for Palestinian Independence and Statehood,” scheduled from 14:10 to 15:25 WIB. The session brings together prominent voices in diplomacy and international affairs. H.E. Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, will deliver the keynote speech, followed by special remarks from former Indonesian Vice President H.E. Jusuf Kalla. Joining the panel also are Nickolay Mlandenov, Wadah Khanfar, and Daniel Levy, with Nathalie Tocci as moderator.

As the Global Town Hall calls for a U-turn toward development, humanity, and justice, the Palestine session asks us to look beyond the question of independence itself, to the realities that must underpin a viable and lasting state.

The discussion is set to examine the prospects and challenges surrounding Palestinian statehood, including governance, territorial integrity, security, the two-state solution, and the international political will needed to shape its future.

Held virtually and livestreamed, Global Town Hall will bring the discussion to an international audience, placing the question of Palestinian statehood within a wider call on justice, humanity, and the future of international cooperation.