France Recognizes Palestinian State, urging Two-State solution

PARIS – In a move hailed as a potential turning point for Middle East diplomacy, France has officially recognized the state of Palestine. President Macron announced the decision before an auditorium,stating it was “for peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”

Macron emphasized that this recognition is not a concession to violence or a departure from France’s commitment to Israel, but rather “a reaffirmation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.” He also framed it as “a defeat for Hamas and for those who promote anti -Semitism and anti -rings as a form of hatred.”

The announcement comes amid escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 65,000 deaths.France, traditionally an ally of Israel with the largest Jewish community in europe, is making a notable diplomatic shift.

Conditions for Embassy Opening

Macron acknowledged the timing of the decision, stating, “Some will say that it is indeed too late, others will say that it was too soon, but the truth is that we cannot expect more.” He quoted Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, “This recognition is to affirm that the Palestinian people are a town that never say goodbye to anything.”

“The time has come for peace. We must preserve the possibility of a solution of two states Israel and Palestine, living next to each other in peace and security,” the president insisted. “this recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people It does not remove anything from the rights of the people of Israel that France supported from day one,” Macron added.

Macron stated that France is prepared to open an embassy in Palestinian territory, contingent on the release of the 48 Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the declaration of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“We must preserve the possibility of a solution of two states Israel and Palestine, living next to each other in peace and security.”

Palestinian Authority’s response

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, addressed the UN forum via video conference after the United States denied him a visa. He condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack and demanded that the group “give their weapons to the Palestinian authority.”

Abbas stated that Hamas “will not have any role in the future Gaza’s government”, aligning with international demands. “This recognition is an critically important step towards a fair and lasting peace,” he said. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, urged other countries to take similar action to establish a “new reality” in the Middle East.

UN Secretary General António Guterres welcomed France’s recognition, stating, “We should not let the fear of reprisals prevents us from moving towards peace”. While a meeting with Trump is anticipated, there are no indications of dialogue with israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli and U.S. Reactions

The Israeli government responded swiftly. Netanyahu accused those involved of “feeding anti -Semitic hatred” and rejected the possibility of a palestinian state. He also threatened to expand settlements in the West Bank, while ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich called for annexation of the occupied territory.

Israel will not attend the Security Council’s emergency meeting on Gaza, citing the Jewish New Year.The Israeli president is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Friday.

The Trump administration expressed its disapproval of the recognition.White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump views these actions as “a reward for Hamas” and will address the General Assembly on Tuesday.

“The president believes that these decisions are just words. We focus on serious diplomacy, not on gestures for the gallery,” Leavitt said.Trump intends to hold a meeting with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, who are mediating between Israel and Hamas.

“Our priorities are clear: the liberation of hostages, the security of Israel and peace and prosperity for the entire region, which are only possible without Hamas.We will continue working with our allies and partners to achieve those objectives,” Leavitt concluded. The recognition of Palestine by several traditional allies has placed the United States in a diplomatically isolated position.

In April, the U.S. vetoed a resolution for Palestine’s full UN membership, and there are no signs of a change in this stance. France’s announcement marks a turning point in Western strategy towards the middle East, as the international community seeks to revive the two-state solution.