- French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24 that France will officially recognize Palestine as an independent state, with formal recognition planned at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
- Initially supportive of Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, Macron cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reiterated France’s long-standing support for a two-state solution.
- The announcement sparked strong condemnation from Israel and the U.S., who argue that recognizing Palestine rewards terrorism and undermines peace efforts, particularly in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks.
- Palestinian Authority officials, including Hussein al-Sheikh, praised the move as a step toward self-determination, with support echoed by foreign ministers from Spain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
- France is the most influential European country to recognize Palestine, highlighting growing international divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognize Palestine as an independent state on Thursday, July 24.
Macron, who initially backed Israel following the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, has become increasingly vocal about the devastating toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. In line with this, he posted on his official Instagram account that he will formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
“Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine,” Macron posted on Thursday. “Peace is possible.” His post included a letter addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming France’s “historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East.”
“I welcome these courageous commitments and highlight in return France’s own commitment to fostering the implementation of the solution of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This solution is the only path that can address the legitimate aspirations of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. It must now be brought about as quickly as possible,” Macron wrote in the letter addressed to Abbas. (Related: Kremlin reaffirms recognition of State of Palestine as a sovereign nation.)
France, which has both Europe’s largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, is the largest European country to recognize Palestine as a state.
Macron’s recognition of a Palestinian State sparks global rift
The Palestinians seek an independent state encompassing the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel after the 1967 war, and Gaza. Israel, however, has been opposing statehood efforts, arguing that they reward Hamas following the deadly Oct. 7 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of over 200 others.
In turn, Israel, along with the U.S., strongly condemned Macron for his decision.
“We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: The Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed the criticism, asserting that “a Palestinian state will be a Hamas state.” Defense Minister Israel Katz similarly declared that Israel would “not allow the establishment of a Palestinian entity that would harm our security.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, strongly rejecting Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of Oct. 7,” Rubio wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Meanwhile, Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed the decision and expressed gratitude to Macron. “This position reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state,” al-Sheikh said. Foreign ministers from Spain, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Jordan also expressed the same thought as al-Sheikh.
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Watch the video below that talks about the growing number of nations wanting to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
This video is from the Maverick News channel on Brighteon.com.
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Sources include:
TheNationalPulse.com
Instagram.com
France24.com
APNews.com
LeMonde.fr
Brighteon.com
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