France is set to officially recognize a Palestinian state in September during the United Nations General Assembly, according to an announcement made by President Emmanuel Macron. Macron revealed this decision on the social media platform X, expressing his hope that this move will contribute to peace in the Middle East.
In a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron confirmed France’s intention to become the first major Western nation to acknowledge a Palestinian state. He stated, “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.” He further elaborated that this “solemn announcement” would be made at the UN General Assembly in September.
The decision has drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who characterized it as “rewarding terror” and warned it could “risk creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.” Netanyahu asserted that such a move would be “a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it,” and claimed that the Palestinians’ ultimate goal is not a state alongside Israel, but rather “a state instead of Israel.”
This development is also anticipated to provoke a negative reaction in Washington, as the United States has previously voiced its opposition to any unilateral steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state, as indicated in a diplomatic cable from June.
Macron has reportedly been considering this recognition for several months as a strategy to preserve the viability of a two-state solution, despite facing pressure against such a move. French officials had initially explored this possibility in anticipation of a UN conference, jointly planned by France and Saudi Arabia for June, which aimed to outline a path toward a Palestinian state while safeguarding Israel’s security. However, this conference was postponed due to US pressure and the recent Israel-Iran air conflict, which disrupted regional airspace and elaborate travel for Arab representatives.
The conference has as been rescheduled as a ministerial event for July 28-29,with a subsequent gathering of heads of state and government planned on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.Macron’s decision to announce France’s recognition in advance of the upcoming conference is intended to provide a framework for the French delegation and encourage other nations that are considering similar recognition or still harbor reservations.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Macron has encountered resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada regarding his advocacy for Palestinian state recognition. Approximately 40 foreign ministers are expected to attend the New York conference next week.
In response to France’s announcement, Palestinian Authority Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh expressed gratitude, stating on X that Macron’s decision demonstrates “France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our self-reliant state.”
