A United Nations conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia aimed at forging a roadmap towards a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians has been postponed after Israel attacked Iran, two sources said.
A Western diplomatic source in Saudi Arabia said that the conference would be postponed partially due to Israel's attacks on Iran.
A second source familiar said some delegations from the Middle East would not or could not come due to developments.
Earlier, Ireland received a diplomatic cable from the US urging it not to participate in the conference next week.
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It is understood that the démarche has been sent to all countries attending the conference.
However, speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said that Ireland was to participate in the conference despite a cable from the US.
"Just to be very clear Ireland absolutely will be attending and participating fully in the two-state conference due to take place in the UN and of course the United States of America has every right to convey its views in relation to foreign policy," he said.
Mr Harris added: "But we also, by the way, have every right to have our foreign policy and what's happening at the moment in Gaza is genocide.
"There are children being left to starve and a two-state solution is further away than it ever has been.
"And now is actually the time, not for diplomatic cables, but for leadership, for leadership, to make sure the starving children can get the food, much of which is parked in Jordan and to help bring about an end to the horrific genocidal activity," he said.
The Tánaiste added that it is the "very strong view of the Irish people" that end Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
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"It's the very strong view of the Irish Government and we've every right to convey our foreign policy position, and I think the United States is well aware of our position which I must say is now the position of so many countries right across the world, who are just utterly horrified at what they're seeing on their television screens and hearing about."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was due to travel to New York to participate in the meeting before it was postponed.
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Delegates were to discuss ways of establishing a two-state solution which would create a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem alongside Israel.
On Tuesday, the US sent a cable claiming that countries recognising a Palestinian state and taking "anti-Israel actions" - such as sanctions and boycotts - would be seen as acting against US interests and could yield diplomatic consequences.
"The United States opposes the implied support of the conference for potential actions including boycotts and sanctions on Israel as well as other punitive measures," the cable read.
The message also claimed the conference undermined US efforts with Egypt and Qatar to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and free Israeli captives held hostage by Hamas.
