French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September, a move met with harsh criticism from both Israeli and U.S. leaders. The decision, reported by Jewish Telegraphic Agency and JNS.org, signals a sharp diplomatic shift amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and global frustration over stalled peace efforts.
Macron frames move as historic and moral
In a multilingual post on X, Macron called the decision “consistent with France’s historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” He outlined the move in a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, praising Abbas’s recent condemnation of Hamas and his stated willingness to reform the Palestinian administration. “This solution is the only path that can address the legitimate aspirations of both the Israelis and the Palestinians,” Macron wrote. “It must now be brought about as quickly as possible.”
Israel condemns move as emboldening terror
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.” In a blistering series of statements reported by JNS.org, other Israeli officials echoed that message. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the move “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” while UN Ambassador Danny Danon said it was “a disgraceful reward for terrorism” as hostages remain in Gaza. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed Macron’s effort as “not serious,” warning that “a Palestinian state will be a Hamas state.”
U.S. joins criticism, while PA praises shift
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the French move as “reckless,” saying it “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.” Senator Tom Cotton called it “a shameful endorsement of terrorists,” while AIPAC said Macron “is acting as Hamas’s handmaiden.” In contrast, Palestinian Authority officials welcomed the announcement. Abbas called it a “courageous step” that could bolster international legitimacy for a two-state solution.
Symbolic gesture adds pressure on Israel
Though largely symbolic, Macron’s announcement is the most significant to date from a major Western power. While more than 140 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state, most Western governments have held back, citing the need for a negotiated agreement. France, which has the largest Jewish population of any country to make such a move, now joins Spain, Norway, and Ireland in officially backing Palestinian statehood amid intensifying global scrutiny of Israel’s war in Gaza.
