French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France plans to recognize Palestine as a province in June this year.
Macron made comments in an interview with a French television station during his two-day trip to Egypt.
“Our goal is to be able to chair this meeting sometime in June with Saudi Arabia, where we can confirm the mutual recognition movements of several people,” he said.
“I do that… At some point it’s fair and I have to allow all people who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in turn, because I think it’s because I also want to participate in collective dynamics.
Macron said this would allow France to “be clarified in the fight against those who deny Israel’s right to exist,” citing Iran in particular, adding that it “reaffirms its commitment to collective security in the region.”
France is scheduled to chair a two-day UN meeting with Saudi Arabia in New York in June, which aims to advocate for a two-state solution after an 18-month war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
However, formal perceptions of the Palestinian state by Paris represent a major policy change and could risk tensioning relations with Israel.
Approximately 150 countries recognize that Palestine is now recognized as a province, with Ireland, Norway and Spain declared recognition in May 2024.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject the two states’ solution, claiming that granting a state would be “a great reward” after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7th.
