‘The time for peace has come’: Macron announces France’s recognition of Palestine
Emmanuel Macron announces that France has formally recognized the Palestinian state.
“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” he says.
The time has come.
This is why, true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
This is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine.
Key events
‘Statehood for Palestinians is a right, not a reward,’ says UN chief
Guterres says statehood for Palestinians “is a right, not a reward” and without it, there will be “no peace” in the region.
We must recommit ourselves to the two-state solution before it is too late. The solution in which two independent, contiguous, democratic, viable and sovereign states are mutually recognised and fully integrated into the international community.
‘Morally, legally and politically intolerable’: Guterres calls on Israel to end ‘creeping threat of annexation’
The UN secretary-general says “nothing can justify the horrific seven October terror attacks by Hamas or the taking of hostages”.
“And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he adds.
“Nothing can also excuse developments in the West Bank that pose an existential threat to a two-state solution,” he says. “The relentless expansion of settlements, the creeping threat of annexation, the intensification of settle violence – all of it must stop.”
He calls the situation “morally, legally and politically intolerable”.
António Guterres acknowledges the Palestinian delegation and highlights “that they were denied the opportunity to be fully represented” at this summit.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud addresses the UN on behalf of the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Thanking Macron for recognising a Palestinian state, he reiterates that a two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.
Macron also called for a transitional administration in Gaza involving the Palestinian Authority, that will be tasked with overseeing the dismantling of Hamas.
He says France is ready to contribute to a “stabilisation mission” in Gaza, raising the prospect of an international security presence in the territory.
As we previewed earlier, he also said France will only open an embassy to a Palestinian state when all the hostages being held by Hamas are released and a ceasefire has been agreed to.
Macron reframes Palestinian recognition as ‘a defeat for Hamas’
Earlier in his speech, Macron said the recognition of a Palestinian state is the “only solution that will allow for Israel to live in peace”, calling the move a “defeat for Hamas” (clapping back to Israeli and the US claims that recognising Palestine “rewards” Hamas).
The recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people “takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one”, Macron said.
France has never wavered, standing by side, by Israel’s side, even when its security was at stake, including when there were Iranian air strikes. This recognition of the state of Palestine is a defeat for Hamas.
The second priority is to rebuild Gaza, Macron says, along with the dismemberment and dismantlement of Hamas.
Once a ceasefire is agreed, a massive collective effort to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
It is Israel’s “absolute obligation” to facilitate humanitarian access to its population.
He calls on Israel to do nothing more to thwart negotiations with Hamas.
This recognition paves the way for peace negotiations, Macron says.
The top priority, he says, is the release of the remaining 48 hostages and an end to the military operations throughout Gaza.