French President Emmanuel Macron reveals plans to officially recognize a Palestinian state in the coming months, with a potential landmark decision at a UN conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia in June.
The move signals a shift in international politics amid growing calls for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a bold statement on April 9, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France is planning to recognize the state of Palestine within the next few months. This significant step could come at a United Nations conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, scheduled for June 2025, which will be co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
The event in New York is expected to provide a platform for several nations to finalize mutual recognition of Palestinian statehood, signaling a potential turning point in the long-standing conflict.
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“We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron declared in an interview on France 5 television. He emphasized that the June conference could be the moment when various countries officially recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
The recognition is part of France’s broader commitment to advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a vision that has gained urgency in the wake of recent violence in Gaza.
Macron also noted that such a move is both a “moral and political necessity” in the context of the ongoing human toll in Gaza, where over 50,000 lives have been lost since October 2023. “We owe it to the Palestinians, whose aspirations have been trampled on for too long,” he remarked, acknowledging the immense hardships faced by Palestinians.
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He also expressed empathy for the Israelis, emphasizing that peace must be a shared goal for the region.
France’s decision to move forward with recognition is significant, as 147 of the 193 UN member states already acknowledge Palestine’s statehood.
Several European countries, including Spain, Ireland, and Sweden, have recently joined this growing list. The planned conference in June could further alter the political landscape, as it may spur additional countries to officially recognize Palestine.
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Macron’s announcement comes at a critical time in the Middle East, with international pressure mounting for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With the support of Saudi Arabia and other global actors, France aims to take a leading role in shaping the future of the region’s peace efforts.
