France officially acknowledged Palestine and joined the UK, Portugal, Canada and Australia on Monday, with French President Emmanuel Macron making an announcement in addressing the United Nations in New York.
“I am loyal to my country’s historic commitment to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelites and the Palestinians. This is why I declare that France today recognizes the Palestinian state,” Macron cried out loud from the leaders of the attendees.
Before making the announcement, Macron told the United Nations that the world is a little farther away since it can no longer capture peace.
“We can’t wait anymore,” the French leader said he denounced the attack on October 7th, sought a solution for the two states.
“There is nothing justifying the ongoing war,” he said. “Everything forces us,” he added.
France is the latest country to announce its recognition of the Palestinian state after Britain, Portugal, Canada and Australia did so on Sunday.
Around three-quarters of the 193 United Nations recognize Palestine, but until recently most Western countries refused to do so.
The creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel’s territory seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War, along with Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve conflicts.
The Palestinians welcomed the move to recognition, hoping that one day they might lead to independence.
“It won’t happen”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment on Macron’s declaration, but he said in a video posted before Portugal made the Palestinian state “moves not going to happen.”
“The Palestinian state west of the Jordan River will not be established,” he added that Israel doubled the Jewish settlements on the West Bank and “continue this path.”
Netanyahu said it would respond to “the latest attempt to impose a terrorist state” on Israel following the end of the UN General Assembly meeting on Monday.
Israel was opposed to the pre-war Palestinian state, and now claimed that recognition of Palestine would reward Hamas.
Israeli leaders are under pressure from some of his allied governments to advance the annexation of the West Bank, which complicates Palestinian efforts.
Israel says that the internationally recognized Palestinian authority led by Hamas rivals is not entirely committed to peace. He condemned incitement against extremists. Many Palestinians consider their leadership to be increasingly authoritarian.
Hamas, who won the last Palestinian national election in 2006, suggests that he may accept the state in the 1967 line, but continues to formally commit to the Palestinian states on all territories between the Jordan River, including the Mediterranean and Israel.
Netanyahu said he will decide Israel’s response to the Palestinian state’s push after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House next week and at the fourth meeting since Trump took office.
The Trump administration has also opposed growing awareness of the Palestinian state and blamed it for the derailment of the ceasefire talks with Hamas.
Additional sources •AP
