Macron’s Move to Recognize Palestinian State Sparks International Attention

TDT | Manama

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French President Emmanuel Macron has delivered a significant diplomatic statement by declaring his intention to recognize a Palestinian state, a move that analysts warn could provoke backlash from Israel while offering limited immediate benefits to Palestinians.

Macron’s announcement, made during a speech at a UN General Assembly side conference in New York on Monday, marks a dramatic shift in international diplomacy. According to the Élysée Palace, nine other countries—including Australia, Belgium, Canada, and the United Kingdom—are expected to follow suit in recognizing Palestine.

The recognition underscores mounting international frustration over Israel’s ongoing military operations and humanitarian blockades in Gaza, which were intensified after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The decision carries historic significance: France and the UK will become the first permanent members of the UN Security Council to officially recognize a Palestinian state. Alongside Canada, they will also be the first G7 nations to take such a step.

“This recognition is not the end of our diplomatic efforts. It is not symbolic. It is part of a broader, concrete action,” said French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux, highlighting the French-Saudi roadmap accompanying the recognition.

Speaking on Israeli television this week, Macron defended the move, describing it as the “best way to isolate Hamas.”

However, diplomats from both sides, speaking on condition of anonymity, have warned that Israel may respond with retaliatory measures. While they do not expect France-Israel diplomatic relations to be severed, possible actions could include shutting down France’s heavily utilized consulate in Jerusalem or expanding settlements in parts of the West Bank, in defiance of international criticism.