French President Emmanuel Macron has conveyed that France may formally recognise Palestine as a state within the coming months, specifically targeting June of this year. His remarks were made during an interview with a French television station while he was on a two-day visit to Egypt.
“We must move toward recognition, and so, in the coming months, we will move towards that,” Macron stated, outlining his intentions for advancing Palestine’s statehood. He further elaborated, “Our goal is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalise the movement of reciprocal recognition by several nations.”
Macron underscored the importance of participating in a collective effort that encourages recognition of Israel by those who advocate for Palestinian rights, many of whom currently do not acknowledge Israel’s legitimacy. “I will do it because I believe it is fair,” he stressed, emphasising the need for France to take a clear stance against those denying Israel’s right to exist, specifically mentioning Iran.
This initiative is part of France’s broader commitment to promoting collective security in the region. The upcoming two-day United Nations conference led by France and Saudi Arabia in New York aims to advocate for a two-state solution amidst the turbulence that has ensued in Gaza following 18 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
While nearly 150 countries currently recognise Palestine as a state—countries including Ireland, Norway, and Spain all having made declarations of recognition in May 2024—formal recognition from Paris would mark a notable shift in French foreign policy. Such a decision could have repercussions for France’s diplomatic relations with Israel, which adamantly opposes the two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the idea of granting statehood to Palestine, labelling it a “huge reward” for the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that commenced on 7 October. The ongoing tensions highlight the complexities surrounding the recognition of Palestinian statehood and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As discussions unfold, France’s potential move towards acknowledging Palestine as a state will not only reflect its evolving foreign policy but also its commitment to fostering dialogue and stability in a region fraught with long-standing tensions.
Source : euronews
