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President Emmanuel Macron’s bold declaration that France will officially recognise Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly in September has fractured international diplomacy and exposed deep domestic political rifts. While intended as a declaration of peace, the move has ignited backlash across multiple fronts—from Israel’s government to French far-right figures—casting Macron into the centre of a geopolitical storm with massive implications.
By choosing to go public with the recognition timeline, Macron elevated France to the forefront of the contentious Middle East debate. This makes France the most powerful European country yet to break ranks with the cautious stance many Western allies have maintained.
Israel condemned the announcement outright, calling it a “reward for terror.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed those concerns, calling the recognition “reckless” and a propaganda gift for Hamas. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, even ridiculed the move, sarcastically suggesting that Macron might create a fictional Palestinian state on the French Riviera.
While Hamas praised the move, calling it a step towards justice, critics argue that such endorsement should raise alarms—not accolades.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot attempted damage control by asserting that the move explicitly opposes Hamas’s ideology, as the militant group has historically rejected a two-state solution. “We’re choosing peace over war,” Barrot said. But within Macron’s own government, the silence has been deafening. Key ministers avoided questions, signalling internal discomfort with the abrupt shift in foreign policy.
At home, Macron’s decision split the French political landscape. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella warned that the recognition grants Hamas “institutional legitimacy.” Marine Le Pen echoed the same fear, branding the move as de facto approval of a “terrorist state.”
From the far left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed applauded the decision but criticised the delay until September, saying Gaza could be “a graveyard” by then. Others, like Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, sidestepped the matter altogether, brushing it off in favour of “more pressing issues.”
Critics have also pointed out Macron’s failure to uphold his previously stated conditions for recognition. Those included Hamas’s disarmament, release of Israeli hostages, and broader Arab diplomatic support for Israel’s recognition. None of those boxes have been checked, yet the policy shift marches forward.
This abandonment of criteria, opponents say, weakens France’s credibility and leaves both Israeli and Palestinian civilians more vulnerable—not less.
On the streets of Paris, reactions were mixed. Some hailed the decision as long overdue, noting that advocating for a two-state solution without recognising both states is contradictory. Others felt betrayed, fearing that the move empowers violent actors over peaceful solutions.
As Julien, a Paris-based developer, put it: “It’s about time.” But for Gil, a 79-year-old retiree, it’s a moment of shame. “I never thought my country would back people who may bring terror home,” he said.
France’s decision adds momentum to a growing but uneven trend across Europe. Countries like Norway, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia have already recognised Palestine. The UK hinted it might follow, depending on progress toward a ceasefire. Germany, however, remains staunchly opposed—for now.
Should France formalise the decision in September as planned, it will push the number of countries recognising Palestinian statehood to over 142. Whether that will bring peace or pour gasoline on a burning conflict remains to be seen.
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