France Eyes Palestinian State Recognition by June, Israel Voices Strong Opposition
France is considering recognizing a Palestinian state as early as June, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday. The move could occur during a UN conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
Macron, speaking on France 5 television after returning from a trip to Egypt, emphasized the importance of recognizing a Palestinian state, stating, "We must take the path of recognition [of the Palestinian state]. So that's what we're gonna do in the coming months." He suggested the UN conference in New York could be the venue for finalizing this recognition.
However, the proposal has already met with strong opposition from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the idea as a "reward for terrorism." Sa’ar argued that such a move would not promote peace but instead strengthen Hamas and destabilize the region. "‘Unilateral recognition’ of an imaginary Palestinian state by any state in the reality familiar to us all will be nothing but a reward for terrorism and a strengthening of Hamas," Sa’ar wrote on X.
Despite the criticism, Macron defended the potential recognition as a step toward regional security, asserting that it would allow France to "be clear in our fight against those who deny Israel’s right to exist." He added that it would also enable France to commit to collective security in the region.
The Palestinian Authority has welcomed Macron's statement. Palestinian Authority Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin told AFP that France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood “would be a step in the right direction in line with safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution."
France has historically supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A formal recognition of Palestine would signify a major policy shift and could strain relations with Israel, which maintains that such recognition should only occur through direct negotiations between the parties.
Other European countries have recently taken similar steps. Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia recognized a Palestinian state last year, drawing condemnation from Israel.