UNITED NATIONS: Fired by France’s imminent recognition of Palestinian statehood, UN members meet next week to breathe life into the push for a two-state solution as Israel, expected to be absent, presses its war in Gaza. Days before the July 28-30 conference on fostering Israeli and Palestinian states living peacefully side-by-side to be co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognize the State of Palestine in September.

Recognition of a Palestinian state in the wake of Hamas's 7 October attack was "a launch pad to annihilate Israel", PM Netanyahu says.

French president announced decision on X, saying he hoped it would bring ‘lasting peace’ to Middle East