US will skip UN conference on two-state solution for Israel, Palestine
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said during his Thursday briefing to reporters that he had 'nothing further' to add about the summit, scheduled to take place in New York City from July 28-29, 'beyond saying that we will not be in attendance of that conference.'
The conference is co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France. The summit hopes to outline a framework for a Palestinian state.
The gathering was previously postponed in June after Israel launched strikes against Iran. Israel and Iran's war lasted for 12 days and the two sides came to a ceasefire, which was brokered by the Trump administration, on June 24. The U.S. struck three nuclear sites in Iran on June 21.
The Trump administration has previously slammed the conference, urging allies not to attend and warning that nations that do could face consequences from Washington.
'We are urging governments not to participate in the conference, which we view as counterproductive to ongoing, life-saving efforts to end the war in Gaza and free hostages,' an internal U.S. diplomatic cable, reviewed by Reuters, said.
'The United States opposes any steps that would unilaterally recognise a conjectural Palestinian state, which adds significant legal and political obstacles to the eventual resolution of the conflict and could coerce Israel during a war, thereby supporting its enemies,' the U.S. officials added in the cable.
The decision to skip the conference comes as the tension has increased between the administration and the UN, with the State Department announcing earlier this week the U.S. will once again pull out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, arguing the organization has 'strayed from its founding mission.'
The U.S. has long supported a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, backing the formation of a state in Gaza and along the West Bank. President Trump said in February that the U.S. should take over the Gaza Strip and that Palestinians should be relocated.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, was quoted by Bloomberg News in June saying that he did not think a sovereign Palestinian state is still the goal of U.S. foreign policy. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce later told reporters that Huckabee 'certainly speaks for himself.'
Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday that Palestinian militant group Hamas has shown a 'lack of desire' to reach a ceasefire with Israel.
'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza,' Witkoff said in a statement.
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