France, Saudi Arabia to co-chair conference on creating Palestinian state, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday that he and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, would co-chair a conference on the establishment of a Palestinian state in June.
“We have decided to co-chair a conference for the two states in June next year,” Macron said, referring to Israel and a potential Palestinian state.
“In the coming months, together we will multiply and combine our diplomatic initiatives to bring everyone along this path,” he added.
Responding to a question on whether France would recognise a Palestinian state, the French president said he would do so “at the right moment” and at a time “when it triggers reciprocal movements of recognition”.
“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” he added. Macron explained there was a simultaneous aim to “trigger a movement of recognition in favour of Israel,” which he said could “provide answers in terms of security for Israel and convince people that the two-state solution is a solution that is relevant for Israel”. Riyadh has said it would not recognise Israel without an independent Palestinian state.