France is the latest country to formally recognize State of Palestine
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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting being organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York that France now recognizes the State of Palestine.
Why it matters: Macron's announcement was the height of an initiative he launched several months ago with Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and led a dozen countries to recognize a Palestinian state in recent days.
- The initiative succeeded despite opposition by Israel and the U.S. and created a diplomatic tsunami that has further isolated the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Trump administration internationally.
Driving the news: Macron spoke at the general assembly conference in support of the two-state solution and in opposition of Hamas.
- Leaders and diplomats from more than 140 countries participated in the event. Israel and the U.S. boycotted it.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas didn't participate in person because of the U.S. decision to revoke his visa, but in a video speech, he welcomed Macron's announcement and called on more countries to follow suit.
- Abbas also called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages and said Hamas will have no role in Gaza after the war. He also stressed that Hamas must give all its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
What he's saying: Macron said in his speech that he decided to recognize Palestine because he wanted to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
- "The time has come. This is why, true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East and to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, I declare that today France recognizes the state of Palestine," Macron said.
- He warned that the Netanyahu government's policies give him reasons to fear that the Abraham Accords — that led to peace and normalization between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco — and the Camp David Accords, which led to peace between Israel and Egypt, could collapse.
- "We are convinced the recognition is the only solution that will allow Israel to live in peace... It is a defeat for Hamas and all those who want to destroy Israel," Macron said.
- Macron stressed that Hamas must be dismantled militarily and politically and a transitional administration with the involvement of the Palestinian Authority needs to run Gaza.
- Macron said a security force needs to be formed with a mandate from the UN Security Council to create a monopoly over security and to disarm Hamas with assistance from international partners.
State of play: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced in his speech that Belgium recognizes a Palestinian state, but stressed that the recognition will only take legal effect once all hostages are released and when Hamas is no longer in power in Gaza.
- He added that the establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of a Belgian embassy to the State of Palestine will only take place after Hamas is disarmed, Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections are held and a new Palestinian government is formed.
- Luxembourg Prime Minisiter Luc Frieden and the Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela also announced in their speeches that their countries recognize the State of Palestine.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
