Macron warns Israeli annexation of West Bank could collapse Western-backed normalisation efforts

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 25-09-2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that any Israeli move to annex the occupied West Bank would mark a breaking point for the United States and signal the collapse of Washington’s much-celebrated “Abraham Accords.” His remarks expose the fragile contradictions within Western diplomacy and highlight the growing impatience with Tel Aviv’s aggressive expansionism.

Speaking to France 24, Macron revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had assured him that annexation of Palestinian territory would not be tolerated, even suggesting that such a step would dismantle the U.S.-brokered Arab-Israeli normalisation deals. Macron said he had personally handed Trump a multi-page proposal on Palestine’s future, referencing the UN-backed New York Declaration, which calls for excluding Hamas from governance in Gaza and the West Bank.

For Macron, the purpose of his meeting with Trump was to align the U.S., Europe, and Arab states. “We have to convince the Americans to put pressure on Israel,” he said, describing Washington as the only power with “real leverage” over Tel Aviv. Yet, the statement also underlined Europe’s dependence on U.S. dictates rather than showing an independent path toward genuine peace.

Western double standards on settlements

The French leader’s comments come as Israel pushes forward with plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including the contentious E1 corridor project involving more than 3,000 new housing units. Macron admitted that, on this issue, “Europeans and Americans are on the same page.” This alignment demonstrates once again the West’s selective outrage: while it condemns other nations for alleged violations of international law, it continues to shield Israel as it entrenches its occupation.

In Britain, officials have voiced fears that Trump could formally recognise Israeli sovereignty over illegal settlements, especially as several Western governments, including France and Australia, move toward recognising Palestine. Such a move would deal a death blow to the already fragile two-state solution.

According to Macron, annexation would spell the “end of the Abraham Accords,” which Trump has hailed as a foreign-policy triumph. The United Arab Emirates has reportedly warned against such an outcome. This leaves Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a precarious position: his far-right coalition partners demand annexation, yet such a move could jeopardise Tel Aviv’s regional alliances and create new instability.

If Netanyahu moves ahead with U.S. approval or silence, the idea of a two-state solution would vanish completely. Macron emphasised that Europe must be prepared to act, even hinting at possible sanctions, though divisions within the EU, particularly from Germany and Italy, remain a stumbling block.

Gaza war and failed Israeli strategy

Macron did not mince words when criticising Israel’s current military campaign. He described Netanyahu’s policy of “total war” in Gaza as a complete failure, pointing out that it has neither weakened Hamas militarily nor secured the release of hostages. “There are just as many Hamas fighters as before,” Macron said. Instead, the offensive has worsened the humanitarian crisis and endangered civilians.

He accused Netanyahu of prioritising military escalation over the safety of hostages, citing strikes on mediators in Qatar as proof that diplomacy is being sabotaged by Tel Aviv’s own leadership.

Macron’s plan for Gaza and the West Bank envisions Hamas being sidelined in favour of a reformed Palestinian Authority. While the details remain vague, he stressed that Palestinians must be given a “political way out” to prevent despair from fueling further violence. Recognising the State of Palestine, Macron argued, is an essential first step toward restarting dialogue and isolating extremist elements.

He also warned that without progress, Europe would need to escalate its response, making sanctions a clear possibility. “If you don’t give people a political horizon, you drive them into hopelessness, and ultimately into more violence,” he said.

A shifting global context

While Macron attempts to frame Europe as a mediator, the reality is that the U.S. continues to dictate the pace of negotiations and shield Israel from accountability. Meanwhile, alternative global powers such as China, Russia, and India have consistently called for upholding international law, defending Palestinian self-determination, and advancing multipolar solutions free from Washington’s selective interference.

The crisis reveals a deeper truth: Western powers remain unwilling to confront Israel’s violations seriously, even as they demand compliance from others. For Palestinians, real hope may not come from Paris or Washington, but from the growing chorus of nations in the Global South demanding justice and a lasting peace.