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France's recognition of a Palestinian state: Macron's courageous step
Macron's surprising decision to recognize a Palestinian state shows both courage and possibly despair. What effects does this step have on the Middle East?
France's recognition of a Palestinian state: Macron's courageous step
With a single post, French President Emmanuel Macron changed everything - and yet nothing. His late announcement on X, that france in September a Palestinian state France will thus be the first member of the UN Security Council and the G7 countries that take this step.
The background of the decision
Although the recognition by France has been expected for months-actually the short Israel-Iran conflict was forced to postpone the planned summit about Israel-Palestine with Saudi Arabia and European allies-the way of announcing was unexpected. The surprising message has two essential implications.
urgent need for action
Firstly, Emmanuel Macron signals that the time for action has now come. Guide from France, Great Britain and Germany will speak on Friday to urgently take measures against the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Over a thousand Gazaner have been killed since May, while they were desperately looking for food, many more have died of hunger.
The pictures of emaciated, starving Gazans, including children, are reminiscent of the darkest times of the 20th century and have triggered disgust in the western world - even if there have been concrete measures so far. Macron's decision is brave - according to the example of some European allies such as Ireland, Norway and Spain - and could persuade other international powers to follow him.
reactions to recognition
The decision was welcomed by Hamas as a "positive step", while it was rejected by Israeli leaders. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a long -time opponent of a Palestinian state, said on Thursday evening that this recognition "terror". Other ministers argued that the announcement now justifies the official annexation of the West Bank - in the language of the Israeli right Judea and Samaria.
Even if international recognition could work miracles to make real changes for Gaza, the deadline in September will come far too late for the Palestinians who suffer from the Israeli blockade and hunger. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of Unrwa, the most important UN Agency for Palestinian refugees, described the situation in Gaza on Thursday, by saying, people resembled "walking corpses" while hunger reached.
a risky step in the diplomatic game
The one -sided announcement of France also indicates a certain despair on Macron's side. He is a person who appreciates alliances on the international stage - strength in numbers is usually a successful strategy. A month ago everything seemed ready for the recognition of Palestine by France when a summit with Saudi Arabia was planned in Riyadh for the period from June 17th to June 20th. But when open conflict between Israel and Iran broke out on June 13th, this plan was disintegrated.
experts expected that France and Saudi Arabia would involve other allies in joint recognition-a strong signal to Jerusalem and Washington D.C. On the importance of the two-state solution and peace. Macron could still triumph in September if allies support the recognition of France, but this would be associated with the risk of endangering France's diplomatic capital and convincing hesitant partners.
The challenge for Europe
So far,European nations have stubbornly refused to formally react to the two-state solution and to recognize the Palestinian statehood. The respect for Israel's position as an ally of the West, the aversion to the Islamist government in the Gaza Strip and the shortcomings of the Palestinian autonomy authority led to a steamed outrage over Israeli settlements and attacks on Palestinians without the international reaction changed significantly. France now breaks this taboo
Within France, a country that has long been taking a sympathetic position on the Palestinian cause, the recognition of the Palestinian state will not be a controversial decision. After the Second World War, Charles de Gaulle France mobilized France to support the Palestinian people after the war of 1967, and Paris used contacts to the Palestinian liberation organization for decades, even as on behalf of the group terrorist attacks on French soil.
future effects of the decision
Macron vigorously supported Israel's retaliation on the massacre of October 7, but over time intensified his criticism of Netanyahu and the Israeli approach in the war. He publicly expressed concerns to "import" the conflict to France, where the largest Jewish and Muslim community of Europe lives. But when the number of victims in Gaza rose, France banned arms exports to Israel, organized aid deliveries to the area and repeatedly demanded an armistice and access for humanitarian aids and journalists.
With this brave step to recognize the Palestinian state in front of its colleagues, the Élysée Palace hopes to trigger a wave of recognition in the West. With the auxiliary care, which is still brutally denied the ordinary Gazan, this could be a last attempt to bring some relief.