France will recognise the Palestinian State
Rights — di Luigi Mastrodonato
President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognise the Palestinian State. It will happen at the UN General Assembly in September.
France will recognise the Palestinian State
President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognise the Palestinian State. It will happen at the UN General Assembly in September.
President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognise the Palestinian State. The process will be formalised in September, during the United Nations General Assembly.
Palestine is currently recognised as a state by 147 of the 193 UN member states. These are mainly countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, while the majority of Western European countries are absent from this list, as are the United States. And it is from Washington that the harshest criticism of Macron has come.
Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.
I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September.
I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September.
France's turning point
"I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine. I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September." So wrote French president Emmanuel Macron on his social media profiles, having already opened the door to the possibility of this recognition in the spring.
As far back as last April, Macron had signalled openness on the matter, stressing that recognising Palestine could also serve as a form of pressure on those states that do not recognise the State of Israel. Now the official announcement has come, and it carries considerable weight, given that in Western Europe only Spain, Ireland and Norway recognise the Palestinian State — and they have done so for just over a year.
In announcing the recognition, Macron added that "We must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and ensure that, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative."
Criticism and expressions of gratitude
President Macron's decision drew sharp criticism from Israel and the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a reckless decision, stressing that his administration firmly rejects it. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz spoke of "shame and surrender to terrorism", adding that Israel will not allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
We express our thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron for his letter addressed to His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, in which he reaffirmed France's steadfast position and confirmed his country's intention to recognize the State of Palestine in
The Vice President of the Palestinian National Authority, Hussein Al Sheikh, thanked France, highlighting the country's commitment "to international law and its support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state."