US warned countries against taking part in UN conference on Palestine: Report
The Reuters news agency is reporting that the Trump administration has warned countries against attending a United Nations conference on the two-state solution.
Citing a cable sent on June 10, Reuters reported that Washington said countries that take “anti-Israel actions” on the heels of next week’s conference will be viewed as acting in opposition to US foreign policy interests and could face diplomatic consequences.
The cable also said the US government would oppose any steps that would unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state – something conference co-host France said would be on the table during the UN event.
Al Jazeera could not immediately verify the Reuters report. The news agency said the US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US is Israel’s staunchest backer, providing the country with at least $3.8bn in military assistance annually and billions more since the Gaza war began. Washington also has consistently offered diplomatic support for the Israeli government amid growing international condemnation of the war.
Yeah it's fully a US genocide now. The US can't sink any lower, but I'm sure Trump will find a way.
White House skirts question on reported pressure ahead of UN conference
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has failed to answer a question about whether the Trump administration is exerting pressure on countries that take part in an upcoming United Nations conference on the two-state solution.
As we reported earlier, Reuters said today that Washington had warned nations participating in next week’s event that they could face diplomatic consequences if they take “anti-Israel actions”.
“Right now, the president views the situation in Israel and Gaza as deeply unfortunate and needing to end, and the president is realistic about the current state of affairs in this region of the world,” Leavitt replied, without addressing the question.
“That’s why the president has said the number-one focus and priority of the administration is to release all of hostages from Gaza and to end this conflict as soon as possible,” she said.
“Clearly, Gaza is an uninhabitable place. It needs to be rebuilt with the help of our Arab partners, and the president wants to see that happen, as well.”
Trump has promoted a plan to force Palestinians out of Gaza so that the enclave can be transformed into “the Riviera of the Middle East”. Palestinians and human rights groups have rejected that push as amounting to ethnic cleansing.
Palestinian PM urges EU to pressure Israel over Gaza war
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has discussed taking concrete steps to stop the war on Gaza with Christophe Bigot, the EU’s newly appointed special representative for the Middle East peace process.
The discussion comes before next week’s UN-hosted International Peace Conference in New York, focused on pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the occupation, and the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Mustafa also urged stronger European pressure on Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax revenues and halt illegal deductions from clearance funds.
EU envoy Bigot stressed the need for coordinated diplomatic efforts to revive a political horizon based on a two-state solution. He reiterated the EU’s opposition to illegal Israeli settlement expansion and annexation, and said securing humanitarian aid access and a lasting ceasefire in Gaza must be top priorities on the path to the reconstruction of Gaza.
