French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France could recognise a Palestine in the coming months. He made the statement during an interview with France 5 television on Wednesday.
Macron plans to finalise the move at a United Nations conference in June. France will co-chair the event alongside Saudi Arabia. The focus will be on resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron said. He clarified that this decision was not aimed at pleasing anyone. “I’ll do it because at some point it will be right,” he added.
Palestinian officials welcomed Macron’s comments. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Palestine’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, called it a positive step. She said it supported the Palestinian people’s rights and the two-state solution.
Israel responded sharply. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned against unilateral moves. He claimed such recognition would empower Hamas.
“A unilateral recognition of a fictional Palestinian state… will be a prize for terror and a boost for Hamas,” Saar posted on X. He added that such actions would not bring peace or stability but would push it further away.
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Currently, 147 out of 193 UN member states recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. Last year, nine more countries joined this list. These include Ireland, Spain, Norway, Armenia, and Jamaica. Still, key Western powers like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia have not extended recognition.
Macron said he expects a “collective dynamic” to develop. This momentum, he believes, could push some Middle Eastern nations to recognise Israel. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen still do not recognise Israel officially.
Macron said France’s recognition of Palestine would also clarify its position. He stressed it would strengthen the fight against those who deny Israel’s right to exist, such as Iran. It would also boost collective regional security efforts.
France has long supported the two-state solution. Macron reaffirmed this stance, even after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. He said France’s policy remains unchanged.
However, formal recognition by France would be a major shift. It could anger Israel, which opposes recognition without a final peace agreement.
During a recent trip to Egypt, Macron met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. He reiterated his opposition to forced displacement or annexation in Gaza and the West Bank.
Macron’s comments suggest France is ready to take a leading role in peace efforts. If it recognises Palestine, other Western nations may follow. The move could reshape the global conversation on the Middle East conflict.
France’s decision, if made official, may also raise tensions. But Macron insists it is the right step, at the right time, for peace and justice in the region.
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