France's President Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference at the 19th Summit of the Francophonie at the Grand Palais, Paris, Oct. 5, 2024. On the Oct. 7 anniversary he expressed his solidarity with “the pain of the Israeli people” on social media and met with the families of French hostages being held by Hamas.
In a major shift, Emmanuel Macron said France will move to formally recognize the state of Palestine in the coming months.
The French president said in a TV interview Wednesday that recognition of a Palestinian state could encourage adversaries of Israel, such as Iran or Saudi Arabia, to grant it recognition.
“We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron told the France 5 station. “I will do it…because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognise Israel in turn, which many of them do not do.”
The step would mark a significant change for France, which is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community and has long been a close ally of Israel — acting as one of the country’s largest arms suppliers early in its history. Israel, in turn, is home to a growing population of French immigrants.
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www.jta.org
In a major shift, Emmanuel Macron said France will move to formally recognize the state of Palestine in the coming months.
The French president said in a TV interview Wednesday that recognition of a Palestinian state could encourage adversaries of Israel, such as Iran or Saudi Arabia, to grant it recognition.
“We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron told the France 5 station. “I will do it…because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognise Israel in turn, which many of them do not do.”
The step would mark a significant change for France, which is home to Europe’s largest Jewish community and has long been a close ally of Israel — acting as one of the country’s largest arms suppliers early in its history. Israel, in turn, is home to a growing population of French immigrants.
Complete Article
France will move to recognize a Palestinian state this year, Macron says - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The decision would be a major shift for the country with Europe's largest Jewish community.
www.jta.org
