In a landmark address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared France's official recognition of the State of Palestine, marking a pivotal shift in French Middle East policy. The announcement, delivered from the UN podium in New York, was accompanied by similar declarations from several other nations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Belgium, and Portugal, signaling a coordinated international effort to break the current deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to Le Monde, which published the full text of Macron's speech, the French president delivered his declaration with the words: "Faithful to my country's historic commitment to peace in the Middle East between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, I declare that France recognizes today the State of Palestine." The French delegation rose in celebration following the announcement, capturing a moment that Palestinian authorities immediately hailed as "historic and courageous."
The timing of this recognition comes nearly two years after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks that killed 1,224 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Macron condemned these attacks unequivocally while simultaneously calling for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic proportions. "Nothing justifies the continuation of the war in Gaza anymore. Nothing," Macron stated emphatically, underlining the urgency of securing the release of 48 remaining hostages while preventing further civilian casualties.
The French president articulated a comprehensive peace plan developed in partnership with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing a phased approach beginning with an immediate ceasefire coupled with hostage release. The second phase would involve stabilizing and reconstructing Gaza under a transitional Palestinian administration, with international support for the establishment of security arrangements. France pledged its readiness to contribute to an international stabilization mission and support the training of Palestinian security forces.
Macron's speech reflected a delicate diplomatic balance, reaffirming France's unwavering commitment to Israel's security while acknowledging Palestinian aspirations for statehood. He referenced the original 1947 UN partition plan that created Israel while promising an Arab state that "remains to this day unfinished." The president emphasized that recognizing Palestine represents "a defeat for Hamas and all those who fuel antisemitic hatred" while serving Israel's long-term security interests.
The coordinated recognition effort builds upon earlier moves by Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia in 2024, bringing the total number of countries recognizing Palestine to 142. Additional nations, including Andorra, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, and San Marino, joined Monday's announcement, demonstrating growing international momentum for the two-state solution.
Macron set specific conditions for establishing a French embassy in Palestine, contingent upon the release of all Gaza hostages and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire. He also called upon Arab and Muslim partners who haven't yet recognized Israel to do so once a Palestinian state is established, envisioning "double recognition for the benefit of peace and security for all in the Middle East."
The French president concluded his address by invoking the memory of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, quoting his words about making war only when there was no chance for peace, asserting that such a chance exists today with 142 states extending their hand in peace.
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