<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A top-level UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians scheduled for next week has been postponed amid </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/explosions-ring-out-across-irans-capital-as-israel-claims-it-is-attacking-the-country/49e40c56-6e92-46ca-8d1c-b4edef51d5a2" rel="" target="_blank" title="surging tensions in the Middle East"><span>surging tensions in the Middle East</span></a><span>, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France and Saudi Arabia were due to co-chair the conference hosted by the UN General Assembly in New York on June 17-20, and Macron had been among leaders scheduled to attend. The Palestinian Authority hoped the conference would revive the long-defunct peace process.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron expressed his "determination to recognize the state of Palestine" at some point, despite the postponement.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/van-gogh-chair-idiot-tourists-sit-on-and-break-delicate-chair-in-italian-museum/3822b719-1eaa-4e76-bc3b-2a42cc28b4a1"><strong><span>Tourists sit on and break 'Van Gogh' chair in museum</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France has pushed for a broader movement toward recognising a Palestinian state in parallel with recognition of Israel and its right to defend itself.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After Israel's strikes on Iran on Friday, Macron said that France's military forces around the Middle East are ready to help protect partners in the region, including Israel, but wouldn't take part in any attacks on Iran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron told reporters that the two-state conference was postponed for logistical and security reasons, and because some Palestinian representatives couldn't come to the event. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/un-conference-on-palestinian-state-postponed-because-of-middle-east-tensions/24614643-0aef-4b7a-a905-ff9d45cfe79e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He insisted that it would be held "as soon as possible" and that he was in discussion with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about a new date.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The UN ambassadors from France and Saudi Arabia said in a letter to the 193 UN member nations that the delay is "due to the current circumstances in the Middle East that prevent regional leaders from attending the conference in New York."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France's Jerome Bonnafont and Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Alwasil said the conference will open on June 17 in the General Assembly hall, but only to propose and agree to its suspension. They invited all countries to attend the opening.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are determined to resume the conference at the earliest possible date," the two ambassadors said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron said the aim of the conference "is a demilitarised Palestinian state recognizing the existence and the security of Israel." Any such state would exclude any Hamas leaders, he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron said that the Israel-Iran conflict, the war in Gaza and the situation for Palestinians around the region are all "interlinked."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Macron spoke on Friday with 10 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, about the Israeli strikes on Iran and consequences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the aims at the UN conference was to increase the number of countries recognising Palestinian territories as an independent state. So far, more than 145 of the 193 UN member nations have done so. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Palestinians view their state as encompassing Gaza and the West Bank with east Jerusalem as the capital.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Netanyahu has rejected the creation of a Palestinian state, and Israel refused to participate in the conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em></em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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