Top-level UN conference on Palestinian statehood postponed
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that a top-level UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine has been postponed amid surging tensions between Israel and Iran.
France and Saudi Arabia were due to co-chair the conference hosted by the UN General Assembly in New York on June 17-20, and Macron had been among leaders scheduled to attend.
Macron told reporters that the two-state conference was postponed for logistical and security reasons, and because some Palestinian representatives couldn't come to the event. He insisted that it would be held 'as soon as possible' and that he was in discussion with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a new date.
He insisted that 'this delay does not call into question our determination to move forward with the implementation of the two-state solution, whatever the circumstances."
One of the aims at the UN conference was to increase the number of countries recognising Palestinian territories as an independent state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the creation of a Palestinian state, and Israel refused to participate in the conference.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that US President Trump's administration had sent a cable discouraging governments around the world from attending the conference.
It reportedly warned countries that any "anti-Israel actions" taken after the conference could be followed by diplomatic consequences from Washington.
Macron stressed that 'the aim is a demilitarised Palestinian state recognising the existence and the security of Israel,' Macron said. Any such state would exclude any Hamas leaders, he said.
After Israel's strikes on Iran on Friday, Macron said that France's military forces around the Middle East are ready to help protect partners in the region, including Israel, but wouldn't take part in any attacks on Iran.
He said "the risk of this march towards nuclear weapons by Iran threatens the region, Europe and, more generally, collective political stability."
French schools, places of worship, public buildings, public festivals and gatherings and places of interest for the French Israeli, American and Jewish communities are all the focus of a call for greater security given out by France's interior minister Bruno Retailleau today.
In a letter seen by Euronews addressed to the minister of defence, the heads of the army, police and other security chiefs, Retailleau said that deteriorating situation in the Middle East following Israel's strikes on Iran necessitated implementation of immediate action to increase security within France.
In addition to calling on a beefed up police presence and extra vigilance, the note also called for efforts to track individuals, "particularly Iranians or those with links to Iran", already of interest to French authorities in the context of anti-radicalisation.
After convening with his security cabinet, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will also increase protection of Israeli assets and Jewish sites.
While Merz emphasised Israel's 'right to protect its existence and the security of its citizens," he also called on both sides to refrain from further escalation.
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