French President Emmanuel Macron has officially announced that France plans to recognize the state of Palestine. He made the statement public on Thursday via a letter shared on social media platform X.
France to Recognize Palestinian State at UN Assembly
The letter was addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, confirming France’s intention to proceed with Palestinian state recognition during the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Macron wrote, “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine.” He said the decision would be declared formally at the UN.
This step makes France the first major Western power to take this route. Until now, mostly smaller countries have supported the idea, many of which have been critical of Israel’s actions. France is home to both Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities, making this decision particularly significant within its borders and abroad.
French officials had been planning the move for months. Initially, the announcement was expected at a June peace conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. However, the event was delayed due to U.S. opposition and a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran, which disrupted air travel for Arab representatives. That conference has now been rescheduled as a smaller ministerial meeting on July 28-29. A follow-up event is also planned on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
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Macron’s early announcement is seen as a strategy to give the French delegation a clear goal while talking to other countries at the UN. The aim is to build momentum among nations that are still undecided about Palestinian statehood.
Strong Opposition from Israel and the United States Over Palestinian Recognition
France’s decision has sparked angry reactions from both Israel and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the move, calling it a reward for terrorism. In a post on X, he wrote, “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.” He claimed that Palestinians do not want to share the land but want to replace Israel entirely.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also reacted strongly. He described France’s decision as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism.” Katz added that Israel would never allow the creation of a Palestinian entity that could pose a threat to its national security.
The United States, a close ally of both Israel and France, also rejected the plan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that Macron’s decision “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.” He called it “a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” referring to the Hamas attack on Israel last year, which led to the ongoing war in Gaza.
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Earlier in June, a U.S. diplomatic cable had warned against any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. The document stated that such a step could go against U.S. foreign policy interests and might lead to consequences. Washington’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, had even said that he no longer saw Palestinian statehood as a U.S. goal.
Israel, too, has been working behind the scenes to stop the plan. Officials from Israel have warned France that their decision might harm bilateral relations. These warnings include scaling back intelligence sharing and obstructing France’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Some Israeli sources have even hinted at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank if France goes ahead.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Pressures
While Israel and the U.S. have come out strongly against France’s move, other countries have shown more cautious support. Canada recently criticized Israel for worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and backed a two-state solution. Prime Minister Mark Carney accused Israel of blocking Canadian-funded aid to Palestinian civilians and violating international law.
Carney also called for an immediate ceasefire, urging both sides to return to the negotiation table. He said that Hamas must release all hostages and that Israel must respect the territorial boundaries of the West Bank and Gaza.
On the Palestinian side, the French announcement was welcomed with open arms. Hussein Al Sheikh, Vice President of the Palestinian Authority, thanked France on X. He stated that Macron’s decision reflects “France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
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Despite the heavy backlash from some of its closest allies, France is moving forward with its plan. Diplomats believe that by declaring their intention early, France hopes to encourage other hesitant nations to consider similar recognition during the UN meetings. Around 40 foreign ministers are expected to gather in New York for the discussions.
France’s move has not gone unnoticed. While some call it a bold step for peace, others warn it could ignite further tensions in an already unstable region.