A high-level United Nations conference focused on advancing a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, originally scheduled for next week, has been postponed due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday.
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was set to take place at the U.N. General Assembly in New York from June 17 to 20. Macron was among the world leaders expected to attend. The Palestinian Authority viewed the event as a potential revival of the long-stalled peace process.
Despite the delay, Macron reiterated his commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state at an appropriate time. France continues to advocate for a balanced approach that recognizes both Palestinian statehood and Israel’s right to self-defense.
Following Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, Macron stated that French military forces deployed around the Middle East are prepared to support regional partners, including Israel, but emphasized that France would not participate in any offensive actions against Iran.
Macron explained that the postponement was due to logistical challenges and security concerns, as well as the inability of some Palestinian representatives to attend. He assured that the conference would be rescheduled “as soon as possible” and that he was working closely with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to set a new date.
In a joint letter to all 193 U.N. member states, France’s Jerome Bonnafont and Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Alwasil cited current Middle East circumstances as the reason regional leaders cannot attend the New York event. The ambassadors confirmed that the conference would formally open on June 17 in the General Assembly hall but only to agree to suspend proceedings, inviting all countries to participate in this initial session.
“We are determined to resume the conference at the earliest possible date,” the ambassadors stated.
Macron outlined that the goal of the conference is to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state that acknowledges Israel’s existence and security needs. He stressed that such a state would exclude any Hamas leaders.
The French president also linked the Israel-Iran conflict, ongoing war in Gaza, and broader regional Palestinian issues, underscoring their interconnected nature.
On Friday, Macron held discussions with 10 global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding the Israeli strikes on Iran and their broader implications.
One key objective of the U.N. conference was to expand international recognition of Palestinian statehood. To date, more than 145 of the 193 U.N. member countries have acknowledged Palestinian territories as an independent state, which Palestinians define as including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as the capital.
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state and declined to participate in the conference.
