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President of France Emmanuel Macron puts his foot down on the decision to recognise Palestine as a state, but this recognition sparks ire from Donald Trump and other world leaders. The Israel-Palestine conflict has raged on for decades, eventually breaking out into a full-blown war in 2023 after Hamas launched a coordinated assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip via land, sea, and air. Since then, many, including soldiers, civilians, and journalists, have fallen victim to the crossfire, which have gained global attention.
As the tensions remain unresolved, a proposed two-state solution is widely believed to be the ultimate panacea to motivate an immediate ceasefire. The proposed framework entails the establishment of two states for the two sides, with Israel left to the Jewish People while Palestine, encompassing the West Bank and Gaza Strip, would enjoy independent control of the Palestinian people. So far, only 140 of the 193 states making up the United Nations have complied with this proposal, and an upcoming UN General Assembly in New York City would offer an avenue to discuss this two-state model on a broader level.
Macron Declares Support For Palestinian State
Ahead of this historic summit, the French President has indicated his desire to support the model, joining sister-states Spain and Ireland in their stance. Emmanuel Macron, who became the President of France in 2017, declared his intentions to recognize Palestine as a state via a post on X this week, despite the reluctance of Donald Trump and other leaders of G7 nations to comply. The 47-year-old revealed plans to make the official announcement at the UN General Assembly, set to take place in New York City in September. He wrote,
“The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”
His unexpected public announcement has stirred varying reactions from other world leaders. Acknowledging Macron’s position, the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, pointed out that the French have demonstrated a commitment to “international law and support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination.” Hamas has also urged other world leaders to follow suit by taking that “step in the right direction.” While Palestinian officials have commended France’s decision, many leaders, including Israeli and United States officials, have condemned Macron’s actions as a recipe for future disaster.
US Rejects France’s Palestine State Recognition
Reacting, the United States’ Secretary of State condemned the decision as a “reckless” one, affirming that the country, under Donald Trump’s presidency, strongly rejects the idea. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, noted that Macon’s support of a Palestinian State rewards terror, citing the coordinated land, sea, and air strikes on Israel on October 7, 2023. He went on to cite the imminent dangers of recognizing an independent Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv, writing on X,
“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has yet to reach a firm consensus on the two-state solution. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in a statement on Thursday, confirmed his intention to hold an emergency call with French and German leaders on Friday to discuss urgent ways to stop the killings, per BBC. He also acknowledged that becoming an independent state was an “inalienable right of the Palestinian people,” and a ceasefire could enhance the path to attaining that for the Palestinians.
Starmer’s comment about Palestine recognition comes weeks after the French President graced the UK on his first state visit to the monarch during King Charles’ reign. The two leaders discussed strategic models that could prove effective in brokering a better relationship between France and Britain. During the visit, Macron urged Britain to support the recognition of Palestine as an independent state and help defend Ukraine while addressing the British Parliament. While the British position remains undecided pending Starmer’s official declaration, the pressure from sister states could indicate a shift towards a more Palestine-favoring policy.
