French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state is no longer taboo for France, indicating that Paris might take such a step if the two-state solution efforts stall due to Israeli opposition. However, unilateral French recognition would not significantly alter the situation on the ground without genuine negotiations, but it would have symbolic and diplomatic impacts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed opposition to Palestinian sovereignty, asserting that Israel would not relinquish full security control over the West Bank, which contradicts the establishment of a Palestinian state. In 2014, French lawmakers voted in favor of urging their government to recognize Palestine, a symbolic move that had little effect on French diplomatic stance, according to Reuters.
Macron’s comments mark the first time a French leader has proposed such a suggestion, highlighting the growing impatience among Western leaders as the human toll in Gaza increases due to the Israeli offensive in response to a Hamas attack on October 7th. Standing alongside Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Paris, Macron said, “Our partners in the region, especially Jordan, are working on it, and we are working with them. We are ready to contribute to it, in Europe and in the Security Council. Recognizing the Palestinian state is not taboo for us,” as reported by Reuters.
Macron’s remarks likely aim to increase pressure on Israel. The massive Israeli air and ground assault on the densely populated Gaza Strip has resulted in over 28,000 Palestinian deaths, razed built-up areas, and left most of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents homeless. While most developing countries recognize Palestine as a state, most Western European countries do not, arguing that an independent Palestinian state should emerge from negotiations with Israel.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated this month that part of British policy is to look forward to recognizing a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations, at some point. Macron mentioned that the Israeli attack on Rafah would only lead to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster and could be a turning point in the conflict.
