Macron Opens Door To France’s Recognizing Palestinian State

The recognition of a Palestinian state is no longer a taboo for France, President Emmanuel Macron said, suggesting Paris could make the decision if efforts for a two-state solution stalled because of Israeli opposition, John Irish reported for Reuters.

A unilateral French recognition would do little to change the situation on the ground without true negotiations but would weigh symbolically and diplomatically. I Photo: Jacques Paquier Flickr

A unilateral French recognition would do little to change the situation on the ground without true negotiations but would weigh symbolically and diplomatically.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced opposition to Palestinian sovereignty, saying he will not compromise on full Israeli security control west of Jordan and that this stands contrary to a Palestinian state.

Israel has already killed 28,800 Palestinians, more than 80% of them children and women, after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. French lawmakers voted in 2014 to urge their government to recognize Palestine, a symbolic move that had little impact on France's diplomatic stance.

Macron's comments were the first time a French leader had made such a suggestion and highlighted further impatience among Western leaders as casualties mount in Gaza from Israeli retaliation after an attack on Oct. 7 by Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas that killed 1,200 people, and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

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