France to recognize Palestinian statehood

Department of Research, Studies and International News 10-04-2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that his government is moving toward officially recognising a Palestinian state, indicating that the formal decision could come within the next few months. His remarks, delivered during an interview with France 5, highlight a potential turning point in France’s long-standing policy of advocating for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Macron noted that this recognition could be finalised during a United Nations conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia this June. “We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” he declared, emphasizing that the decision was not being taken to satisfy any particular party, but because it would be “the right thing to do.”

This announcement comes at a sensitive time in international relations and underscores France’s growing frustration with the stagnation of the peace process. Macron’s comments suggest that France seeks to take a more active role in reshaping regional diplomacy and pressuring stakeholders to return to negotiations grounded in the two-state framework.

The Palestinian leadership responded positively to Macron’s statement. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Palestine’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, described the move as a “step in the right direction,” asserting that it aligns with efforts to secure Palestinian rights and a sustainable two-state solution.

However, the Israeli government strongly criticised the idea of unilateral recognition. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the initiative, warning that acknowledging a Palestinian state under current conditions would reward extremist groups and threaten regional stability. “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 move the region further away from peace, not closer to it.

Currently, 147 of the 193 United Nations member states recognise Palestinian statehood, with several new recognitions in the past year alone. Countries such as Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados have recently joined this list. Despite this growing global support, major Western powers including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia have continued to withhold official recognition.

Macron’s vision appears to be tied to fostering a broader diplomatic initiative, one that could also encourage Middle Eastern nations to formally acknowledge Israel’s statehood. He expressed hope that such a shift could encourage reciprocal recognition from countries that have long refused to recognise Israel, such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen.

In Macron’s view, this strategic recognition of Palestine would strengthen France’s stance against actors who challenge Israel’s right to exist, particularly Iran. It would also reinforce France’s commitment to collective regional security. “It allows us to be clear in our fight against those who deny Israel’s right to exist,” Macron said.

France’s endorsement of the two-state solution has been consistent, even in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli territory. Still, a formal and official recognition of Palestinian statehood by France would signify a dramatic shift in its foreign policy and would likely provoke tensions with Israel, which argues that such recognition undermines efforts to achieve negotiated peace.

During a recent diplomatic mission to Egypt, Macron reiterated his opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians or annexation of territory in Gaza and the West Bank. His meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II reinforced France’s commitment to a political resolution based on mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence.

As France prepares to co-chair the upcoming UN conference, all eyes will be on whether Macron’s pledge will materialise into formal diplomatic recognition, a move that could potentially reshape international dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If successful, it may inspire other Western countries to follow suit, applying renewed pressure for a comprehensive peace agreement in the region.