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Ya Biladi
5 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
«Rewarding terror» : Netanyahu slams Macron over Palestinian state recognition announcement
«I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine». With these words, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major shift in French diplomacy on the evening of Thursday, July 24, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Fidèle à son engagement historique pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j'ai décidé que la France reconnaîtra l'État de Palestine. J'en ferai l'annonce solennelle à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025 The official recognition is set to take place at the UN General Assembly in September, against the backdrop of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. In recent days alone, over 100 people have reportedly died from hunger, according to humanitarian sources. Macron stated that his move is intended to support «a just and lasting peace», calling for an «immediate ceasefire», the «release of hostages», the «demilitarization of Hamas», and the reconstruction of Gaza. He emphasized that the future Palestinian state must «fully recognize Israel» and «contribute to the security of all in the Middle East». The Israeli Government Responds with Outrage The Israeli government reacted with fury. « This decision rewards terror », said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that it would create an «Iranian proxy» at Israel's borders. «The Palestinians do not want a state alongside Israel; they want a state instead of Israel», he added. Justice Minister Yariv Levin went even further, calling the move «direct aid to terrorism» and demanding the annexation of the West Bank. More than 70 members of the Israeli Knesset have backed this position. For its part, Hamas hailed the announcement as «a positive step» and urged other countries to follow France's example. The Palestinian Authority echoed this sentiment. «This position reflects France's commitment to international law», said senior official Hussein al-Sheikh. In France, Macron's announcement has sparked mixed reactions. Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) called it a «moral victory», but questioned the delay: «Why in September, and not now? What about an arms embargo? What about suspending the cooperation agreement [with Israel]?» Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN), accused Macron of granting «unexpected legitimacy to Hamas». France's far-right has remained staunchly supportive of Israel's far-right government since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Currently, 142 countries recognize the State of Palestine. France will co-host an international peace conference with Saudi Arabia this fall. A ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in New York on July 28 and 29.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Israel, US reject French move to recognise Palestinian state
France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron has said in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan has drawn angry rebukes from Israel and the United States. Mr Macron, who unveiled the decision on social media, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France's intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition and work to convincing other partners to follow suit. "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine," Mr Macron said. "I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September." Fidèle à son engagement historique pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j'ai décidé que la France reconnaîtra l'État de Palestine. J'en ferai l'annonce solennelle à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025 Home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities, France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state. The news sparked anger in Israel and Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision by one of Israel's closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy." In a post on X, he added: "A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a… — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 24, 2025 "Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the move as "a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism," adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of a "Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence." In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "strongly rejects (Macron's) plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly." In a post on X, he said: "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th." Earlier, Canada also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its "failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza" and reiterating support for a two-state solution. Mr Carney also accused Israel of violating international law over the blocking of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. "Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith," he added. "We reiterate our calls for Hamas to immediately release all the hostages, and for the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza." In a diplomatic cable in June, the United States said it opposed steps to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, even saying it could go against US foreign policy interests and draw consequences. In June, Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a US foreign policy goal. President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a US takeover of Gaza in February, that was condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN as a proposal of "ethnic cleansing". Mr Macron had been leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state for months as part of a bid to keep the idea of a two-state solution alive, despite the pressure not to do so. French officials initially weighed up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia had planned to co-host in June to lay out parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel's security. The conference was postponed under US pressure and after the 12-day Israel-Iran air war began, during which the closure of regional airspace made it hard for representatives of some Arab states to attend. It was rescheduled and downgraded to a ministerial event on 28-29 July, with a second event taking place with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision to make the announcement ahead of next week's conference aimed to give the French team at the United Nations a framework to work with other countries that are also considering recognising a Palestinian state or have misgivings in doing so. Diplomats say Mr Macron has faced resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada over his push for the recognition of a Palestinian state. About 40 foreign ministers will be in New York next week. Israeli officials have spent months lobbying to prevent what some have called "a nuclear bomb" for bilateral ties. Sources familiar with the matter say Israel's warnings to France have ranged from scaling back intelligence sharing to complicating Paris' regional initiatives - even hinting at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank. Israel has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group Hamas' deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and says recognising a Palestinian state now would be equivalent to rewarding Hamas. Thanking France, the Palestinian Authority's Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said on X that Mr Macron's decision reflected "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."
India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
War Must End: Macron Drops Diplomatic Bombshell, France To Recognise Palestine
Paris: A shift in European diplomacy is taking shape. French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that France will officially recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. He says will make an announcement in this regard at the United Nations General Assembly in September. In a message shared on his official social X handle, Macron laid out the urgency. 'The war in Gaza must stop. The civilian population must be protected. There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a massive humanitarian aid effort for the people of Gaza,' he said. His statement further read, 'Hamas must be demilitarised, Gaza secured and rebuilt. We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and, by accepting its demilitarisation and full recognition of Israel, allow it to contribute to the security of all in the region.' There is no alternative. The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is up to us, French, Israelis, Palestinians and our European and international partners, to show that it is possible.' With visible emotion, he said the decision is rooted in France's long-standing values. 'Peace is possible. And France, true to its historic role, will take this step in support of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,' he posts. Fidèle à son engagement historique pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j'ai décidé que la France reconnaîtra l'État de Palestine. J'en ferai l'annonce solennelle à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025 Sources familiar with the discussions say Macron's government has been deliberating this recognition for months, but the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the global outrage it has sparked compelled him to act now. For Palestinians, the announcement hit like a thunderclap. Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, received a formal letter from Macron outlining France's intent. The response came swiftly through his top official Hussein al-Sheikh, who welcomed the move as 'a reaffirmation of France's faith in international law and the rights of our people to self-determination'. He said the recognition would strengthen efforts to establish a sovereign Palestinian state. Observers see this as the most significant diplomatic endorsement for Palestinian statehood in years. Over 130 countries, primarily across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Arab world, have already recognised Palestine. But France's entry into this camp carries outsized weight. It is the first G7 member and the most powerful European Union (EU) country to openly align itself with the Palestinian cause in this way. Inside Israel, Macron's decision has not gone down well. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin issued a condemnation, branding the recognition 'a stain on France's history'. He went even further, warning that it emboldens what he called 'terrorism' and urging Israel to move toward annexation of the West Bank. The timing of the French move appears significant. Just days earlier, the United States abruptly walked away from ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, blaming Hamas for stonewalling. Macron's recognition announcement also lands amid accusations that Israel is restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza and allowing Palestinians to die while scrambling for food. France itself stands at a sensitive crossroads. With the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in Western Europe, the country often finds itself caught in the domestic crosswinds of any Middle East conflict. Macron's administration is bracing for backlash at home, but believes the moral and diplomatic weight of the move is worth the cost. At the United Nations, Macron's foreign minister is set to co-chair a high-stakes conference next week to revive the two-state solution, a framework that has floundered in recent years. The French president has made it clear that recognition of Palestine will not come at the expense of Israel's security. But he insists that lasting peace cannot be achieved while the Palestinian question remains unresolved. The territories at the centre of this recognition, Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, were captured by Israel in the 1967 war. East Jerusalem was annexed soon after, while sprawling settlements took root across the West Bank. Over half a million Israeli settlers now live there, alongside about three million Palestinians under varying degrees of military control. The Palestinian Authority holds limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, but sovereignty has remained elusive. Macron's announcement has jolted a stagnant diplomatic scene and revived momentum for the two-state vision. With France stepping forward, attention now turns to how other Western powers respond and whether they, too, will follow suit.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
France will officially recognise State of Palestine in September, Macron announces
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL Macron has confirmed that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine. It comes amid mounting international anger an condemnation over the widespread hunger of the population of Gaza, with aid organisations warning of 'mass starvation' and leaders urging Israel to allow more aid to enter the region. In a statement shared on social media, Macron said he will make the formal announcement at the UN General Assembly in September. 'True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,' he said. The French head of state also shared a letter he has written to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas informing him of his intention. 'The urgency today is to end the war in Gaza and to provide aid to the civilian population,' Macron said. Fidèle à son engagement historique pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j'ai décidé que la France reconnaîtra l'État de Palestine. J'en ferai l'annonce solennelle à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025 'The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is up to us, the French, together with the Israelis, the Palestinians, and our European and international partners, to demonstrate that it is possible.' Advertisement Hussein al-Sheikh, the deputy to the Palestinian president, welcomed the announcement and thanked Macron. 'This position 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,' Sheikh said. Macron offered support for Israel after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks and frequently speaks out against antisemitism, but he has grown increasingly frustrated with Israel's blocking of aid to Palestinians in the territory. France has Europe's largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in western Europe, and fighting in the Middle East often spills over into protests or other tensions in France. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment. Macron reiterated France's 'determination' to recognise a Palestinian state 'under any circumstances' in June, and he has pushed for a broader movement toward a two-state solution France's foreign minister is co-hosting a conference at the UN next week about a two-state solution. France is the biggest and most powerful European country to recognise Palestine. More than 140 countries recognise a Palestinian state, including including Ireland, doing so last May . Spain and Sweden also recognise the state, but Germany, while backing a two-state solution, has said recognition now would send the 'wrong signal'. France has reportedly been working closely on the issue with the UK, which also so far has not recognised a Palestinian state, at a time when French-British diplomatic ties are becoming increasingly tight after Brexit. Related Reads Gaza: Warnings of 'mass starvation' as Taoiseach says 'humanity is shocked' by what's happening Over 20 children die from starvation as UN warns 'last lifelines' are collapsing in Gaza EU tells Israel to 'stop killing people' who are seeking food and aid British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he will hold emergency talks with France and Germany on Gaza tomorrow, as he condemned the 'suffering and starvation' unfolding there as 'unspeakable and indefensible'. Starmer said the situation has been 'grave' for some time but has 'reached new depths'. The Labour leader is also under increasing pressure to fulfil Labour's promise to recognise Palestine as a state. 'We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,' Starmer said. 'I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need, while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace. 'We all agree on the pressing need for Israel to change course and allow the aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay.' With reporting from Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
President Macron says France will recognise Palestine as a state
Mr Macron said in a post on X that he will formalise the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. 'The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,″ he added. Fidèle à son engagement historique pour une paix juste et durable au Proche-Orient, j'ai décidé que la France reconnaîtra l'État de Palestine. J'en ferai l'annonce solennelle à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies, au mois de septembre prochain.… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 24, 2025 The French president offered support for Israel after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and frequently speaks out against antisemitism, but he has grown increasingly frustrated about Israel's war in Gaza, especially in recent months. 'We strongly condemn President Macron's decision,' Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. 'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.' The Palestinian Authority welcomed it. A letter announcing the move was presented on Thursday to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. 'We express our thanks and appreciation' to Mr Macron, Hussein Al Sheikh, the PLO's vice president under Mr Abbas, posted. 'This position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination.' France is the biggest and most powerful European country to recognise Palestine. More than 140 countries recognise a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe. France has Europe's largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in western Europe, and fighting in the Middle East often spills over into protests or other tensions in France. France's foreign minister is co-hosting a conference at the UN next week about a two-state solution. Last month, Mr Macron expressed his 'determination to recognise the state of Palestine', and he has pushed for a broader movement toward a two-state solution, in parallel with recognition of Israel and its right to defend itself. Thursday's announcement came soon after the US cut short Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, saying Hamas was not showing good faith. Momentum has been building against Israel in recent days. Earlier this week, France and more than two dozen mostly European countries condemned Israel's restrictions on aid shipments into the territory and the killings of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach food. The Palestinians seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank, annexed east Jerusalem and Gaza, territories Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel's government and most of its political class have long been opposed to Palestinian statehood and now say that it would reward militants after Hamas' 2023 attack. Israel annexed east Jerusalem shortly after the 1967 war and considers it part of its capital. In the West Bank, it has built scores of settlements, some resembling sprawling suburbs, that are now home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers with Israeli citizenship. The territory's three million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule, with the Palestinian Authority exercising limited autonomy in population centres.
