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Macron to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Drawing Mixed Reactions
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By Anya sharma | PARIS – 2025/09/21 07:36:41
French President emmanuel Macron is set to formally recognize the state of Palestine during his address at the United Nations. This decision, carrying important symbolic weight, could be a defining moment of his second term. The move has already sparked controversy,drawing both support from allies and sharp criticism from Israel.
The decision aligns with the approach taken by previous French presidents. Macron has been working with Saudi Arabia,hoping they can normalize relations with Israel,a goal previously pursued by donald Trump. Several G7 countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada, along with Australia and EU representatives from Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal, have joined France in this initiative, transforming what seemed like an isolated action into a broader movement.
Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized the French government,leading to increased tensions between Jerusalem and Paris. The Israeli Prime Minister accuses France of encouraging anti-Semitism and offering a “gift” to Hamas. However,this criticism faces scrutiny when considering France’s stance.
The French diplomatic initiative aims for presidential and legislative elections in 2026 without Hamas and the demilitarization of the future Palestinian state. France has consistently condemned the October 7, 2023, attacks and has supported Israel’s right to defend itself. Macron has also been actively working to secure the release of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas. While acknowledging Israel’s right to respond to the attacks, Macron has stated that the destruction in Gaza is unjustifiable, notably the impact on civilians and the famine affecting thousands of children. Families of hostages and soldiers are also calling for an end to the conflict.
Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism both from the Israeli government and within France. The CRIF has urged him to delay the recognition until all hostages are released and Hamas is dismantled. Some political factions also question the timing of the decision.
The French government is also concerned about the exploitation of the conflict,particularly by some political groups,which they fear could exacerbate tensions between religious communities in France. Calls to raise Palestinian flags on town halls have been criticized as divisive, especially during the Jewish New year.
Reactions to France’s Recognition of Palestine
“Peace is a continuous creation.”
as he addresses the United Nations, the Head of State aims to demonstrate that recognizing the Palestinian State is a matter of dignity, humanity, and obligation. He seeks to follow the path laid out by Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin during the Oslo agreements, echoing Raymond Poincaré’s sentiment that “Peace is a continuous creation”.
