France could be the country 150 to recognize a state of Palestine. The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron made this commitment, on Thursday, July 24, in a letter, after having opened the door to this recognition several weeks ago.
“Faithful to its historical commitment for a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East, I decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine. I will make the solemn announcement to the United Nations General Assembly, next September. The emergency is today that the war in Gaza ceases and that the civilian population is rescued. Peace is possible,” said Emmanuel Macron in an open letter to Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian.
The announcement of Emmanuel Macron intervenes while the inhabitants of Gaza faced a great famine on a scale.
Therefore, France will act in September this decision before the United Nations Assembly. And integrate the list of 149 countries that already recognize this territory, as the Minister of Palestinian Foreign Affairs has done. A list that also includes the Vatican, a territory that is not one of the UN Member States.
France will not be isolated within the European Union, since countries like Spain and Sweden have recognized the territory. However, most Western Europe and North America countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea are absent from this list. Among these absent, some have announced to consider this recognition, without acting a precise calendar, such as Canada.
A controversial decision that causes the anger of Israel
In fact, the French Parliament had already adopted in 2014 a symbolic resolution, related to the recognition of the State of Palestine, encouraging the government to begin this process, without success.
The French historical position is also aligned with the importance of the solution of two states.
Israel and the United States reacted the virulence to the announcement of Emmanuel Macron, accusing France of playing Hamas. “Hamas has always rejected the solution to two states. Recognizing Palestine, France demonstrates that this terrorist movement is wrong,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barot.
The question is still particularly flammable within the French political landscape. If the left is delighted with this ad, the right and extreme right is protected.
Marine Le Pen sees in this decision the recognition of a “terrorist state”, punishing a “political and moral failure.” For his part, the vice president of the LR François-Xavier Bellamy described as the “useless” or even “counterproductive” decision of Emmanuel Macron to recognize the state of Palestine.
Source: BFM TV
