France, Feb. 19 -- Meeting in New York on Wednesday - a day earlier than planned to avoid clashing with President Trump's "Board of Peace" meeting in Washington- UN diplomats used the session to reassert the United Nation's central role in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as a new US-led initiative seeks to reshape global mediation efforts.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, described the moment as "pivotal" - a rare opening for the region to shift course after more than two years of war. But she cautioned that the opportunity is fragile and depends on decisions taken in the coming weeks.

That sense of urgency was echoed across the UN chamber, with British Foreign Secre...