Latest news with #PalestinianState
Al Jazeera
9 hours ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Is a Palestinian state being derailed by Israel's illegal settlements?
Israel says it plans to build 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank – the largest number approved to be built at one time. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the settlements are intended to block the creation of a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the Israeli army continues its expanded offensive, destroying homes, roads and facilities, such as waterways and hospitals, essentially making areas of the occupied West Bank uninhabitable. And settler violence against civilians, including destroying crops and uprooting trees, is at an all-time high, according to the UN. Europe has hit back against the move to build more illegal settlements by threatening sanctions. But can they have a real impact? What does this mean for millions of Palestinians? And is a Palestinian state now becoming nearly impossible? Presenter: James Bays Guests: Xavier Abu Eid – Political analyst and a former adviser to the PLO's negotiation team Ori Goldberg- an Israeli author, academic, and political commentator Salman Shaikh – CEO of The Shaikh Group, an organisation working on diplomacy and mediation in the Middle East
CNA
10 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Israel accuses France's Macron of 'crusade against the Jewish state'
JERUSALEM: Israel accused French President Emmanuel Macron of undertaking a "crusade against the Jewish state" on Friday (30th May) after he called for European countries to harden their stance on Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza did not improve. "There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement, defending its efforts to allow in aid. "But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state. No doubt its national day will be October 7," it added, alluding to the date of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Israel last week partially lifted a more than two-month blockade on supplies entering Gaza, which is enduring severe shortages of food and medicines even as truckloads of humanitarian assistance have begun to trickle in. Macron, meanwhile, has stepped up his statements of support for the Palestinians of late. On Friday he said European countries should "harden the collective position" against Israel if it did not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including keeping open the possibility of sanctions. "If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks, we will kill our credibility," Macron told a top defence forum in Singapore. He also called the recognition of a Palestinian state, with some conditions, "not only a moral duty, but a political necessity". France is co-hosting with Saudi Arabia an international conference at the UN in New York meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an outcome the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15 hours ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Minister Says 'We Will Build Jewish Israeli State' in West Bank
Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday to build a "Jewish Israeli state" in the occupied West Bank, a day after the government announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements in the West Bank, seen as a major obstacle to lasting peace, are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and Thursday's announcement drew sharp foreign criticism. "This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land -- and it is also a clear message to (French President Emmanuel) Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper -- but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground," Katz was quoted as saying Friday in a statement from his office. "The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper." Katz was speaking during a visit to the Sa-Nur settlement outpost in the northern West Bank. Sa-Nur was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then prime minister Ariel Sharon. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. During a visit to Singapore on Friday, French President Macron asserted that recognition of a Palestinian state, with some conditions, was "not only a moral duty, but a political necessity". An international conference meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is set to take place in June at the UN headquarters in New York. A diplomat in Paris close to preparations for the conference said it should pave the way for more countries to recognize a Palestinian state. Macron said in April that France could recognize a Palestinian state in June. Following Israel's announcement of the new settlements on Thursday, Britain called the move a "deliberate obstacle" to Palestinian statehood, while UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman said it pushed efforts towards a two-state solution "in the wrong direction".
Free Malaysia Today
19 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Macron says stance on Israel must ‘harden' unless Gaza situation improves
President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inspect the honour guard during a visit to the military academy in Central Java.(AP pic) SINGAPORE : French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that European countries should 'harden the collective position' against Israel if it does not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. With international pressure mounting on Israel over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, Macron said action was needed 'in the next few hours and days'. He also asserted recognition of a Palestinian state with conditions was 'not only a moral duty, but a political necessity'. If there was no response in line with the humanitarian situation in Gaza 'in the coming hours and days… we will have to harden our collective position,' Macron said on a visit to Singapore. This meant dropping an assumption that human rights were being respected 'and apply sanctions', the French leader said hours before addressing a defence summit in the city-state. Macron is on a diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia which also saw him visit Vietnam and Indonesia earlier this week. While in Jakarta, Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued a joint statement condemning Israeli plans to take control of Gaza and any moves to 'forcibly remove the Palestinian population from their homeland'. Paris hoped to 'trigger a movement of recognition for a Palestinian state under certain conditions', including the demilitarisation of Hamas and recognition of Israel's right to exist and protect itself, Macron said in the Indonesian capital. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remained dire despite aid beginning to trickle back into the territory after a more than two-month Israeli blockade. Food security experts said starvation was looming for one in five people. Israel has also intensified its military offensive in what it said was a renewed push to destroy Hamas, whose Oct 7, 2023 attack triggered the war.
Al Bawaba
19 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Macron: Recognizing Palestine Is a moral and political duty
Published May 30th, 2025 - 08:33 GMT ALBAWABA - According to French President Emmanuel Macron, if certain requirements are fulfilled, acknowledging a Palestinian state is both a moral obligation and a political necessity. Macron stressed at a news conference in Singapore on Friday that if Europe does not effectively address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, it would have to take a more assertive collective stand against Israel. The release of hostages held by Hamas, the disarming of the organization, and its exclusion from ruling any future Palestinian state are among the requirements Macron listed for France's possible recognition of Palestine. He also demanded that the future Palestinian state recognize Israel's right to exist and live in security, as well as changes within the Palestinian Authority. Another need was to establish a framework for regional security. The French president's comments coincide with increasing Western pressure on Israel. France, the United Kingdom, and Canada issued a united statement earlier this week warning that Israel might face consequences if it does not stop its military operations in Gaza and relax restrictions on humanitarian supplies. The statement demanded that people have prompt access to supplies and denounced the growing misery in Gaza. BREAKING: French President Macron says recognizing a Palestinian state is a moral also said Europe must harden stance on Israel and that recognising a Palestinian state was a political necessity. Talk is cheap. Do it. Source: France24 — ADAM (@AdameMedia) May 30, 2025 Macron already alluded to France's plan to recognize Palestine when he said in an interview in April that it may happen in June. He made it clear that this action will be performed when the time was right, not to please anybody. Additionally, he said he hoped such acknowledgment would persuade Palestinian officials to accept Israel's legitimacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized the plan, rejecting the notion of a Palestinian state within what he claims is Israel's territory. Such a state, according to Netanyahu, would be an existential danger as it aims to destroy Israel. Macron's remarks indicate that diplomatic recognition of Palestine may develop into a concerted campaign by many countries in reaction to the continuing humanitarian catastrophe, reflecting rising European dissatisfaction with Israel's conduct of the Gaza War. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
