United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pushed countries to “take irreversible action towards implementing a two-state solution” between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of an international conference in June, Reuters reports.

“I encourage Member States to go beyond affirmations, and to think creatively about the concrete steps they will take to support a viable two-state solution before it is too late,” Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

France and Saudi Arabia will co-host the conference at the UN in June.

“Our objective is clear: to make progress on the recognition of Palestine and the normalisation of relations with Israel at the same time,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the Security Council.

“This is how we will be able to guarantee Israel’s security and its regional integration, whilst responding to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have their own state,” he said.

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