French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced on Monday, during the UN General Assembly, that his country recognizes a Palestinian state.
In his remarks, Macron emphasized France’s longstanding commitment to peace between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. “True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East,” Macron declared, “France recognizes the state of Palestine.”
Macron was quick to reassure Israel and its supporters that France’s recognition does not come at the expense of Israeli rights or security. “France has never wavered standing by Israel’s side,” he said, referencing French support during Iranian airstrikes. “This recognition is the only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace.”
In a pointed rebuke of the Hamas terrorist organization, Macron claimed the recognition “is a defeat for Hamas, just like for all those who ferment antisemitism, nurture anti-Zionist obsessions and who want the destruction of the state of Israel.”
Macron also highlighted a joint peace and security plan submitted by France and Saudi Arabia, which was adopted by the assembly with broad support. The plan’s top priority, he said, is “to ensure the release of 48 hostages and put an end to military operations throughout the territory of Gaza.” He praised the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, and urged Israel to “do nothing more that would thwart these efforts.” Macron claimed Hamas had been “vanquished on the military front” and called for its political dismantling.
The second priority, Macron said, is the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. He proposed a transition administration led by the Palestinian Authority, supported by Palestinian youth and security forces, which would hold exclusive control over Gaza’s security. “It will implement the dismantlement and disarmament of Hamas,” Macron stated, “with the support of international partners and the necessary means required for this difficult mission.”
France pledged its readiness to contribute to an international stabilization mission and to assist in building and equipping Palestinian security forces. Macron suggested that, pending negotiations, the UN Security Council could authorize a civilian and security support mission coordinated with both Palestinian and Israeli authorities.
Macron also stressed the importance of democratic renewal within the Palestinian Arab territories. “It will be up to the State of Palestine to give its people a framework for democratic expression,” he said, noting that Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas had committed to excluding Hamas from future governance and to overhauling Palestinian institutions.
Abbas, Macron alleged, “forcefully condemned the terrorist attacks committed on the 7th of October 2023” and pledged to combat hate speech.
France, Macron stated, will closely monitor the implementation of these commitments. “This renewed Palestinian authority is a necessary prerequisite for the success of the indispensable negotiations we’ll need to resume to come to an agreement on each of the final status issues.”
Macron further announced that France would consider opening an embassy to the “State of Palestine” once all hostages held in Gaza are freed and a ceasefire is in place. He warned that France’s cooperation with Israel would be “indexed” to Israel’s actions toward ending the war and engaging in peace talks. “What France will be demanding of Israel will be just as considerable,” he said.
He called for a sovereign, independent, and demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and is recognized in return. Macron urged Arab and Muslim nations that have not yet recognized Israel to do so once the Palestinian state is established, promoting “dual recognition for the benefit of peace and security of all in the Middle East.”
“This is our peace plan,” Macron declared. “It establishes a demanding mechanism to end the war and enter into the negotiations phase.” He acknowledged the fears and fatigue of both peoples, invoking the memory of Yitzhak Rabin, assassinated for his pursuit of peace. “But today there is such a chance,” Macron said. “Today here 142 states are proposing this peace. They’re extending out their hands ready to be shaken.”
“The time has come to put an end to the war in Gaza… The time has come to do justice to the Palestinian people and thus to recognize the State of Palestine… The time has come to cast out from these lands the vile face of terrorism and to forge peace.”
He concluded with an appeal: “Peace is much more difficult. It demands much more of us than all wars. The time has come.”
Speaking via videocall after Macron, Abbas thanked France for recognizing a Palestinian state.
The PA chairman stated that Hamas and other factions “must surrender their weapons to the Palestinian Authority.”
“We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas actions on October 7, 2023,” he said.
“We call on Israel to sit at the negotiation table to stop the bloodshed. I say to the Israeli people that our future and your future lie in peace,” stated Abbas.
Following Macron’s announcement, several countries taking part in the event also announced they recognized a Palestinian state: Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta, which announced earlier on Monday that it would join France in recognizing a Palestinian state.
Macron’s announcement came a day after Britain, Australia, and Canada officially recognized “Palestine” in a coordinated move on Sunday. Portugal also recognized Palestinian statehood later in the day.
(Israel National News’ North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Rosh Hashanah in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
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