US pressures nations to boycott UN conference on Palestine

The United States is exerting significant diplomatic pressure on foreign governments to avoid attending a United Nations conference on Palestine, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia. A leaked US diplomatic cable, obtained by Reuters, reveals Washington's efforts to derail the event, which is scheduled to take place from June 17 to June 20 in New York.

US opposition to Palestinian statehood

The conference, backed by France and Saudi Arabia, aims to revive discussions on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the leaked cable shows that US officials have explicitly warned other nations against participating, characterizing the event as "anti-Israel" and contrary to American foreign policy interests. The document also argues that recognizing Palestinian statehood during the summit would undermine US-led efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.

France, a long-standing ally of the US, has reportedly been pressuring European nations, including the UK, to formally recognize Palestinian statehood during the event. This move has drawn sharp opposition from Washington, which has warned its allies to avoid any such recognition despite growing demands from Arab states.

A shift in US policy?

The US stance reflects a departure from decades of international consensus, which recognizes territories such as East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza—occupied by Israel since 1967—as the foundation of a future Palestinian state. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently told Bloomberg News that establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank is "no longer a US policy goal." He controversially suggested that Israel's neighboring Arab countries should instead "sacrifice their own lands" to resolve the conflict.

The leaked memo also attempts to frame the recognition of Palestinian statehood as a move that would effectively establish October 7 as "Palestinian Independence Day," a date loaded with political connotations. This reflects a broader US-Israeli narrative that seeks to link any pro-Palestinian initiative to militant groups such as Hamas.

Broader international tensions

The US has also condemned recent moves by countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway to impose sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. Both ministers are viewed as controversial figures, with Ben Gvir previously convicted of terror-related charges in Israel.

The leaked cable underscores the growing divide between the US and some of its allies over how to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the Biden administration continues to align closely with Israel, other nations appear increasingly willing to challenge its position, particularly in light of ongoing human rights concerns and escalating tensions in Gaza.