U.S. slams France's plan to recognize Palestinian state
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and French President Emmanuel Macron (right) shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting in New York last September. Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration on Thursday night strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's pledge to recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September.
Why it matters: Macron's announcement could push other European countries, including the U.K., to take a similar step in the coming weeks.
- The Trump administration is opposed to any country or international organization recognizing a Palestinian state.
- Macron's announcement comes amid growing concern in Europe about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- France's move and its aftermath could further isolate Israel internationally over the war in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank.
The latest: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday night that the U.S. "strongly rejects" Macron's plan.
- "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th," Rubio said on X.
Driving the news: Macron sent a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas notifying him of his decision.
- It comes in response to a letter Abbas sent Macron several weeks ago that included a condemnation of the Hamas October 7 attack, a call for the immediate release of hostages, support for disarming Hamas and a commitment that the Palestinian Authority will go through reforms to allow it to fully govern the West Bank and Gaza and hold presidential elections by 2026.
- The French president made the announcement ahead of an international conference about the two-state solution organized by France and Saudi Arabia to take place next week at the UN headquarters in New York.
- Saudi officials said publicly that they hope the conference will push more countries to recognize Palestine.
What he's saying: "In light of the commitments you have made, France will proceed with the full recognition of Palestine as a state when I attend the United Nations General Assembly this September. In doing so, France intends to make a decisive contribution to peace in the Middle East and will mobilize all of its international partners who wish to participate," Macron wrote to Abbas.
- "This position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state," Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh wrote on X.
The other side: Numerous Israeli officials condemned Macron's announcement.
- "A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
- Ultranationalist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should respond to France's decision by officially annexing the West Bank. Several other government ministers joined his call.
- Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said Macron's decision is "a prize for the Hamas murderers and rapists that committed the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust."
