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A top-level UN league connected a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians scheduled for adjacent week has been postponed amid surging tensions successful the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron said connected Friday (June 13, 2025).
France and Saudi Arabia were owed to co-chair the league hosted by the UN General Assembly successful New York connected June 17-20, and Mr. Macron had been among leaders scheduled to attend. The Palestinian Authority hoped the league would revive the long-defunct bid process.
Mr. Macron expressed his "determination to recognise the authorities of Palestine" astatine immoderate point, contempt the postponement. France has pushed for a broader question toward recognising a Palestinian authorities successful parallel with designation of Israel and its close to support itself.
After Israel's strikes connected Iran connected Friday, Macron said that France's subject forces astir the Middle East are acceptable to assistance support partners successful the region, including Israel, but would not instrumentality portion successful immoderate attacks connected Iran.
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Mr. Macron told reporters that the two-state league was postponed for logistical and information reasons, and due to the fact that immoderate Palestinian representatives could not travel to the event. He insisted that it would beryllium held "as soon arsenic possible" and that helium was successful treatment with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman astir a caller date.
The UN ambassadors from France and Saudi Arabia said successful a missive to the 193 UN subordinate nations that the hold is "due to the existent circumstances successful the Middle East that forestall determination leaders from attending the league successful New York".
France's Jerome Bonnafont and Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Alwasil said the league volition unfastened connected June 17 successful the General Assembly hall, but lone to suggest and hold to its suspension. They invited each countries to be the opening.
"We are determined to resume the league astatine the earliest imaginable date," the 2 ambassadors said.
Mr. Macron said the purpose of the league "is a demilitarised Palestinian authorities recognising the beingness and the information of Israel". Any specified authorities would exclude immoderate Hamas leaders, helium said.
Mr. Macron said that the Israel-Iran conflict, the warfare successful Gaza and the concern for Palestinians astir the portion are each "interlinked".
Mr. Macron spoke connected Friday with 10 satellite leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, astir the Israeli strikes connected Iran and consequences.
One of the aims astatine the UN league was to summation the fig of countries recognising Palestinian territories arsenic an autarkic state. So far, much than 145 of the 193 UN subordinate nations person done so. The Palestinians presumption their authorities arsenic encompassing Gaza and the West Bank with eastbound Jerusalem arsenic the capital.
Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the instauration of a Palestinian state, and Israel refused to enactment successful the conference. (AP) RC
Published - June 14, 2025 07:59 americium IST
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