UNITED NATIONS — As the Gaza war rages on, France recognized Palestinian statehood on Monday at the start of a high-profile meeting at the United Nations aimed at galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict. The Palestinian delegation, including its U.N. ambassador, Riyad Mansour, could be seen standing and applauding as the declaration was made. It recognizes Israel, cooperates with it on security matters, and is committed to a two-state solution. Israel accuses the Palestinian Authority of incitement to militancy and has ruled out any role for it in postwar Gaza. International community widely backs a Palestinian stateAround three-fourths of the 193-member United Nations recognizes Palestine, but major Western nations had until recently declined to, saying one could only come about through negotiations with Israel.