Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron said that France will formally establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine in September when it will convene its annual General Assembly session at the United Nations. If Macron’s plan succeeds, France would be the first UN Security Council permament member as well as the first of G7 nations to take this action — a step widely categorised as a historical diplomatic change in Middle Eastern peace initiatives.
“True to its long-standing tradition of advocating a strong and durable Middle East peace, I have decided that France must recognize the State of Palestine,” President Emmanuel Macron declared in a social media post Thursday evening.
France will further co-chair, with Saudi Arabia, a high-level international conference on peace as a way of reviving a two- state solution. A ministerial meeting will take place on 28 and 29 July in New York, precededed by a summit of heads of state.Macron’s step, although unprecedented, was not unexpected. For months, he hinted of his desire to head in that direction, particularly after formal recognitions of Palestine were granted this year by Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia.
Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World, believes that the step “had been considered for a long time” and is not just a purely symbolic gesture – more of an action to reinforce Palestine’s political standing in the international arena.On the home turf, news of the step bitterly split French politicians.
The right-wing party Republicain’s vice-president, François-Xavier Bellamy condemned the step as “inefficient” and “counterproductive,” saying that it would “endanger Israeli and Palestinian civilians.” Marine Le Pen, who is the “queen” of the extreme right, National Front party attacked President Macron for giving credence to Hamas. She calls the move a “politically and morally flawed one against the values of France. Her right hand, Jordan Bardella argued just like his political “godmother” saying that it gives Hamas, “international legitimacy.”
The French left, on the other hand, widely welcomed the gesture of but didn’t shy from lashing out at its timing. Leftist boss, Jean-Luc Mélenchon referred to it as a “moral victory” but questioned strongly about why it couldn’t be done earlier. Ecologist leader Marine Tondelier declared, “Better late than never,” with Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel urging action and sanctions against Israel’s government immediately.
Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure supported making a gesture but only if done simultaneously with pressure on Israel, as he referred to Netanyahu’s government as “supremacist and messianic.”The French government defended reaching a decision as a step towards peace. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasised that Hamas is against a two-state solution, and recognising Palestine “proves the peace camp right.”
Other ministers reiterated that France will continue to condemn and denounce the 7 October Hamas attacks.Internationally, responses were mixed. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, attacked harshly as its Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “reckless” lift for Hamas propaganda. Saudi Arabia on the other hand applauded what it called a “historic” step and called upon others to join as well.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez who himself recognized Palestine in May 2024 hailed Macron’s move, stating, “The two-state solution is the only solution.”Israel but obviously has responded vigorously against it, with its Paris ambassador warning it would reward terrorism as well as complicate bilateral relations.
However, as 147 of 193 UN countries have so far recognized Palestine, France’s action holds a chance of motivating more Western countries to rethink their positions. Whether this is a genuine breakthrough in Israel’s decades-long conflict with Palestinians only time will tell. However, such a massive announcement, France solidifies itself as a center for new international initiatives towards a long-pursued peace.
