Macron’s Recognition of Palestinian State Sparks International Controversy
French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to recognize a Palestinian state starting in September has provoked significant backlash from Israel and the United States, while reinstating the two-state solution at the forefront of global diplomatic discussions amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reports 24brussels.
In a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Macron affirmed, “Our determination to see the Palestinian people have their own state is rooted in our conviction that lasting peace is essential to the security of the state of Israel.” He noted that France’s stance derives from a deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as one that “can have no justification.”
Israel reacted sharply, condemning Macron’s decision as the death toll in Gaza exceeded 63,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Netanyahu accused Macron of “fueling” antisemitism, a claim the French president termed “abject.”
France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Malta intend to formalize their recognition during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly on September 23. Countries such as New Zealand, Finland, and Portugal are also considering similar actions.
The U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, warned that recognition “embolden[s] extremists, fuel[s] violence, and endanger[s] Jewish life in France,” prompting the French foreign ministry to summon his deputy in protest.
Pascal Boniface, director of the Institute for International and Strategic Relations in Paris, remarked, “The angry reaction shows that symbols matter.” He highlighted a pressing urgency in balancing diplomatic efforts concerning the two-state solution with the deteriorating situation on the ground in Gaza, which complicates the realization of such a solution.
Some advocates for Palestinian statehood expressed disappointment with the September timetable, suggesting that recognition may occur “when Gaza has even more become a graveyard,” Boniface noted.
Calls for an End to Gaza Offensive
Macron and other global leaders have urged Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza, where a significant portion of the population is displaced, neighborhoods lie in ruins, and famine has been declared in Gaza City.
“The occupation of Gaza, the forced displacement of Palestinians, their reduction to starvation … will never bring victory to Israel,” Macron stated. “On the contrary, they will reinforce the isolation of your country, fuel those who find a pretext for antisemitism, and endanger Jewish communities around the world.”
More than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state. Political analyst Muhammad Shehada emphasized that while such recognition remains largely symbolic, support from key Western nations undermines Netanyahu’s narrative that population transfer is the only resolution to the Palestinian issue.
Strengthening Moderate Voices
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot underscored recent collaborative efforts with Saudi Arabia that resulted in the first unified condemnation by the Arab League of Hamas’s attacks on civilians. In July, the Arab League declared that “Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.”
Shehada posited that the initiative could empower moderate Palestinian factions by establishing a diplomatic route that presents alternatives to violence, signaling that diplomatic engagement will yield a Palestinian state, while violence leads nowhere.
The Palestinian Authority seeks an independent state encompassing the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza—regions occupied by Israel since 1967. Since its expulsion from Gaza in 2007, the PA has governed limited territories in the West Bank. Despite European leaders’ focus on the PA in their push for statehood, many Palestinians perceive the authority as corrupt and ineffective.
Macron’s initiative highlights existing rifts among Western allies while applying diplomatic pressure on Israel. For Palestinians, it signifies renewed international support for a two-state solution, even as conditions in Gaza continue to worsen.
