Report: UN conference to discuss steps toward recognition of Palestinian state rather than declaration

A New York conference later this month will discuss steps toward recognition of a Palestinian state rather than a declaration, unnamed diplomats tell The Guardian.

The British outlet says there has been a change in the aims of the confab, and that officials “will instead hope to agree on steps.”

The newspaper says the decision “marks a retreat.”

The report says that French officials told their Israeli counterparts earlier this week that the conference will not see recognition of a Palestinian state.

The international conference meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict will take place from June 17 to 20 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The conference stems from a resolution approved in December by the UN General Assembly, and it will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he expected the conference to take steps “toward recognizing Palestine,” without being more specific.

Macron said in April that Paris could recognize a Palestinian state in the coming months, possibly at the June conference. The French president’s statement drew a furious response from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it a “huge prize for terror.”

Agencies contributed to this report.