The assembly features a particular convention known as by France and Saudi Arabia to push for recognition of Palestinian statehood.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
World leaders are gathering on the United Nations headquarters this week, with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine topping the agenda. President Trump will deal with the world physique tomorrow, and he’ll discover himself at odds with a lot of the world in the case of the Palestinian trigger. France, the U.Okay., Australia and Portugal have now joined the vast majority of international locations in recognizing Palestine as a state. The Trump administration and Israel name {that a} reward to Hamas, and Israel is threatening to retaliate. NPR’s Michele Kelemen joins us now to speak about all of this. Hello, Michele.
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Hello, Ailsa.
CHANG: OK, so give us a way of the scene there on the U.N. proper now.
KELEMEN: Yeah, so right now, France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted this convention on Palestinian statehood, and French President Emmanuel Macron obtained a standing ovation when he introduced that his nation now acknowledges Palestine as a state.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON: (Talking French).
(APPLAUSE)
KELEMEN: You understand, later in his remarks, he stated he could be opening an embassy for Palestine as quickly as all of the hostages are freed and a ceasefire is established. Macron appeared to essentially be having fun with being on the focus within the Common Meeting Corridor. He sat on the dais alongside Saudi Arabia’s overseas minister.
And through his speech, the webcast confirmed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas additionally applauding Macron, too. However he was on video as a result of the Trump administration refused to offer him a visa to really come right here. In his speech, Abbas known as for a ceasefire and talks with Israel, and he made clear that Hamas shouldn’t have any function in Gaza and should give up all of its weapons. However, you realize, his authorities in Ramallah does not actually have affect there in Gaza.
CHANG: And Israel and the U.S. boycotted this convention, proper? Like, what are they saying?
KELEMEN: Proper. I imply, their seats had been empty throughout this session. Earlier than it began, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon known as it a charade and a present to Hamas. Take a pay attention.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DANNY DANON: When Hamas is praising this convention and calling it the fruit of October 7, we all know it is an issue. If a terrorist group is supporting what’s taking place right here, it is shameful.
KELEMEN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been warning international locations that he will retaliate towards those that are recognizing Palestine as a state. Danon did not say what he would do however stated that Netanyahu would deal with the world physique on Friday and would go to Washington to debate subsequent steps with President Trump.
CHANG: All proper, so it sounds prefer it’ll be a reasonably dramatic second when Netanyahu speaks on the finish of the week. What else are you anticipating?
KELEMEN: Nicely, numerous speak about Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine. After President Trump speaks tomorrow on the Common Meeting, he is anticipated to talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This morning, his new ambassador, Mike Waltz, made his first look within the Safety Council. It was an emergency assembly known as by the Estonians after three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace final week. Waltz known as on Russia to cease this harmful conduct – these had been his phrases. And he stated that the U.S. and its allies would defend each inch of NATO territory.
CHANG: That’s NPR’s Michele Kelemen talking to us from the United Nations in New York. Thanks, Michele.
KELEMEN: Thanks.
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