>> UK, France and other western states will not recognise Palestine at New York meeting, instead focusing on agreeing steps towards it
>> A planned conference in New York this month that supporters of Palestine had hoped would push western governments to recognise a Palestinian state has weakened its ambition and will instead hope to agree on steps towards recognition, diplomats have said.
>> The change to the aims of the conference, due to be held between 17 and 20 June, marks a retreat from an earlier vision that it would mark a joint declaration of recognition of Palestine as a state by a large group of countries, including permanent UN security council members France and the UK.
>> French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that the upcoming UN conference on a two-state solution, originally scheduled for next week in New York, has been postponed due to security and logistical concerns [Israeli attacks on Iran caused].
>> "While we have to postpone this conference for logistical and security reasons, it will take place as soon as possible," Macron said during a press conference. Earlier this month, he had expressed hopes that the summit would help advance efforts toward officially recognizing a Palestinian state.