In brief
France is set to officially recognize Palestine as a state, a decision made by President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. This move is supported by several European nations but is met with reluctance from Germany and Italy. Macron describes the recognition as essential for peace and security but faces criticism from Israel, which views this recognition as a reward for Hamas. While France's stance may align with some EU members, it remains controversial among nations closely allied with Israel.
President Emmanuel Macron will formally recognise a Palestinian state in New York on Monday, backed by several other European countries, describing France's move as a 'necessity'. Coming hard on the heels of a decision by the UK, Canada and Australia, Macron said his move would be the 'beginning of a political process and a peace and security plan for everybody'. France, like the UK, carries considerable diplomatic weight as both a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the G7, and is co-ordinating the push with Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of this week's UN General Assembly. Paris will not be joined by two of the other big European states in the G7, Germany and Italy, and not by the US either. Israel has denounced the move as a reward for Hamas, and its UN ambassador has called Monday's event a circus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the River Jordan, and President Isaac Herzog said recognising one would only 'embolden the forces of darkness'. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was adamant that his country's move was a 'categorical rejection' of Hamas but said it was 'symbolic, immediate, and political, demonstrating France's commitment to the two-state solution'. Barrot spoke of Macron's declaration as a 'great diplomatic victory for our country'. A number of other European countries have already recognised a Palestinian state, including Spain and Norway last year, but Macron's move is seen as a gamble by some domestic commentators which might make little difference on the ground. In the lead-up to Macron's announcement, pro-Palestinian protests were observed across cities in Italy, where leaders advised against recognizing a state that does not currently exist. In contrast, Germany's government maintains that the recognition of a Palestinian state is not currently subject to debate, emphasizing the need for a phased approach to peace in the region.
