The two-state solution conference co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning, Australian time, at United Nations headquarters in New York was heady with idealism. World leaders, including Anthony Albanese, rose to the podium to speak about their goal to shape the world for the better by advancing the cause of Palestinian statehood. President of France Emmanuel Macron speaks at the Two-State Solution Conference after a rock-star reception. Credit: Dominic LorrimerHard-headed realism was in shorter supply. For three hours of lofty speech-making, the grim reality of the world as it is often vanished from view, smothered by visions of a peaceful future.