Palestinian statehood

France recognizes Palestinian statehood

President Emmanuel Macron has led a diplomatic push to get countries to recognize a Palestinian state.

By Clea Caulcutt

French President Emmanuel Macron recognized Palestinian statehood in a historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, angering the United States and Israel in the process.

“France recognizes today the State of Palestine,” he said in front of several hundred U.N. delegates, “for peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people.”

In his speech, Macron delivered an impassioned call for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza, for the release of Israeli hostages held by the Hamas militant group, and for the revival of the idea of a two-state solution to the decades of conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

“The time has come because the emergency is everywhere,” he said. “The time for peace is now, because it will soon be too late to grab the moment.”

Macron has led a diplomat push in recent months to get countries to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations annual get-together, seeking to ramp up pressure for peace as Israel intensified its ground offensive in Gaza. On Sunday, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia all recognized a Palestinian state. Other European countries including Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino and Monaco are expected to follow suit.

Monday’s Palestine conference was co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, but in a last-minute change Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not deliver a video address; he was replaced by the Saudi foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan.

Farhan condemned “Israel’s brutal crimes” against the Palestinians and called on other countries to follow France’s lead.

The success of the French president’s lobbying for recognition of a Palestinian state has put Macron in the limelight this week and is seen as a diplomatic victory for the embattled leader, even if it has put in him in the crosshairs of Israel and the U.S. Tensions have been mounting between France and Israel in particular, with the latter threatening retaliatory action against Paris.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, hit back at those who say Israel is increasingly isolated on the international stage. “A large majority of the British, French and Canadian public are against the recognition of a Palestinian terror state. We appreciate that. Israel is not isolated, not at all.”  

“Don’t be confused by the noise of the loud minority and the radical left.”

Both the U.S. and Israel have criticized the surge in support for the two-state solution. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. president “disagrees with” the decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

“He feels this does not do anything to free the hostages, which is the primary goal in Gaza, does nothing to end this conflict and bring this war to a close — and, frankly, he believes it is a reward for Hamas,” Leavitt said Monday.

In the limelight

Ahead of delivering his speech at the U.N. Assembly Hall, the French president spent 10 minutes circulating and shaking hands with delegates, stopping to talk with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was making his first appearance at the U.N., European Council President António Costa, and Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly president.

The French president tried to frame his push for the recognition of Palestinian statehood not as a blow to Israel but instead as a move that will advance Israel’s interests because it will facilitate the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

Macron said it was urgent that nations “open a pathway toward peace,” adding: “The time has come because the worst may be ahead of us, whether it’s the sacrifice of so many more civilians, the expulsion of the Gazan population toward Egypt, the annexation of the West Bank, or the death of hostages detained by Hamas.”

The French president also hit back at criticism from Israel and the U.S. that his move rewards and strengthens Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He said Hamas was “weakened” and now needs to be defeated politically.

Macron also said that the recognition of a Palestinian state would be a phased process and that France would “be attentive” when it came to Palestinian commitments and steps toward full statehood. “I would decide to open an embassy to Palestine once all the hostages in Gaza have been released and a ceasefire has been implemented,” he said.

He also said France was prepared to contribute to “a stabilization mission” in Gaza, raising the prospect of an international presence in Gaza in the event of a ceasefire.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas joined via video link after being denied a visa to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to “surrender its weapons” to the Palestinian Authority.