US pressures allies against attending UN summit on Palestinian statehood

France initially planned to recognize a Palestinian state at next week's conference in New York, but backed down under US pressure  

News Desk - The Cradle 

The US is urging foreign governments not to attend a UN summit on the Two-State Solution between Palestine and Israel scheduled for 17-20 June in New York, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, amid growing international calls for Palestinian statehood recognition.

According to a US diplomatic cable obtained by Reuters, Washington warned allies that participating in the summit would be considered “anti-Israel” and contrary to US foreign policy interests.

“We are urging governments not to participate in the conference, which we view as counterproductive,” the cable reportedly said. It added that the US “opposes any steps that would unilaterally recognize a conjectural Palestinian state,” arguing that such actions would “coerce Israel during a war, thereby supporting its enemies.”

The pressure campaign has reportedly had an impact. Though France initially sought support from the UK and other European allies to recognize Palestinian statehood at the summit, both countries have now dropped plans for a joint declaration recognizing a Palestinian state. Instead, the conference is expected to focus on “gradual steps toward recognition,” tied to political reforms within the Palestinian Authority (PA), governance arrangements for post-war Gaza, and broader regional normalization agreements.

French President Emmanuel Macron had previously declared recognition of Palestine a “moral duty and political requirement,” raising hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough. But under US pressure, France has since assured Israel that no formal recognition will occur at the summit.

On 6 June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Paris would not act unilaterally. “France could have taken a symbolic decision. But this is not the choice we made because we have a particular responsibility,” he said. 

Barrot emphasized that any recognition must “carry diplomatic weight” and be tied to reciprocal steps such as “the recognition of Israel by key Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia.” He also insisted on the “absolute necessity” of disarming Hamas.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned on 6 June that Tel Aviv has prepared an “escalation plan” in the occupied West Bank if European countries move forward with a push to recognize a Palestinian state. 

Despite US objections, Arab states have continued lobbying European powers to proceed with recognition. During consultations at the UN in late May, the Arab Group stated that it would judge the success of the conference based on the formal recognition of Palestine by major states.

The US conference will be held amid reports of famine in Gaza and Israel's ongoing massacres in the besieged enclave.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 54,000 people – mostly civilians – have been killed since Israel began its military campaign in the enclave. The UN has stated that it finds these figures credible, while independent estimates have suggested that more than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's direct violence.