FRANCE plans to recognise a Palestinian state within months and could make the move in June, president Emmanuel Macron has said.
“We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron, who this week visited Egypt, said.
“Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalise this movement of mutual recognition by several parties.”
Nearly 150 countries recognise a Palestinian state, with Ireland, Norway and Spain announcing recognition in May last year, followed by Slovenia in June.
This was partly fuelled by Israel’s brutal and ongoing bombing of Gaza.
Labour have previously committed to recognising Palestine “as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution” – but declined to give a timescale on when that might happen.
But this move from Macron will lump further pressure on Keir Starmer’s Government who, as recently as last month, rejected a proposed law requiring the UK to recognise a Palestinian state.
Macron told French broadcasters on Wednesday night: “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.”
He added that such recognition would allow France “to be clear in our fight against those who deny Israel’s right to exist – which is the case with Iran – and to commit ourselves to collective security in the region”.
