The US is urging foreign governments to boycott a UN conference on Palestine next week, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. The conference aims to discuss a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to a US diplomatic cable, Washington views the event as counterproductive to efforts to end the war in Gaza and free hostages. The US opposes unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which it believes would hinder the eventual resolution of the conflict and potentially harm Israel.
The conference is set to take place from June 17-20 in New York. France had been pushing European allies to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, but the US has warned them against doing so.
The US has long advocated for a two-state solution, with occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza considered key territories. However, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently stated that a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank is no longer a US policy goal.
Instead, he suggested that Israel’s “Muslim neighbours” could give up their land to create one. The US cable notes that unilateral recognition of Palestine would render October 7th, a date commemorating Palestinian independence, ineffective.
The conference comes amid ongoing tensions between Hamas and Israel, following an attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Washington is working with Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and free hostages there.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-warns-countries-not-join-french-saudi-un-conference-palestine-report