Saudi crown prince, France's Macron to lead Palestinian state conference in June

"In the coming months, together we will multiply and combine our diplomatic initiatives to bring everyone along this path," Macron reportedly noted.

 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. December 3, 2024.  (photo credit: SAUDI PRESS AGENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. December 3, 2024.
(photo credit: SAUDI PRESS AGENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

French President Emanuel Macron and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced they would co-chair a conference for the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to a Wednesday AFP report. 

The conference is expected to take place in June. 

"In the coming months, together we will multiply and combine our diplomatic initiatives to bring everyone along this path," AFP quoted Macron as saying.

"We want to involve several other partners and allies, both European and non-European, who are ready to move in this direction but who are waiting for France," the French president added. 

Regarding a French recognition of a Palestinian state, Macron stated, according to the report, that France would carry out such an action "at the right moment."

French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. December 3, 2024.  (credit: SAUDI PRESS AGENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. December 3, 2024. (credit: SAUDI PRESS AGENCY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

UN approves conference 

Earlier on Wednesday, the UN General Assembly approved a decision to hold a "peace conference" on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in June 2025, with the aim of "promoting irreversible steps to end the conflict and establish a Palestinian state."

Some 157 countries supported the decision, seven abstained, and eight opposed, including Israel, the US, Hungary, and Argentina.