France Plans Palestinian State Recognition by June

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that France may formally recognize Palestine as a state by June, framing the decision as part of a broader effort to advance a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Macron revealed the plan during an interview with France 5 television while visiting Egypt, where he discussed regional security with leaders including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. He emphasized that recognition would align with France’s commitment to "collective security" in the Middle East while countering actors like Iran, which denies Israel’s right to exist.

"Our goal is, sometime in June, to co-chair a conference with Saudi Arabia where we could finalize reciprocal recognition by several countries," Macron said. "I’m not doing this to please anyone—I’ll do it because, at some point, it will be the right move."

The proposed step would mark a significant shift for France, which—like most Western powers, including the U.S., Germany, and Britain—has long withheld recognition despite supporting Palestinian self-determination in principle.

Diplomatic Reactions and Regional Tensions

Palestinian officials welcomed Macron’s remarks. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Palestine’s minister of state for foreign affairs, told AFP that French recognition would be "a step in the right direction" toward securing Palestinian rights and a two-state solution.

Israel, however, swiftly condemned the idea. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called unilateral recognition "a prize for terror" in a post on X, arguing it would embolden Hamas and undermine regional stability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected Palestinian statehood, particularly after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

To date, 147 of the 193 UN member states recognize Palestine, with Ireland, Norway, and Spain among those affirming their stance in May 2024. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern nations do not recognize Israel.

France and Saudi Arabia are set to co-chair a UN conference in New York in June aimed at revitalizing the two-state framework after 18 months of war in Gaza. Macron stressed that recognition would be part of a "collective dynamic," urging Palestinian allies to reciprocate by acknowledging Israel—a step many have refused.

Analysts caution that the move could strain France’s relations with Israel, which views such gestures as premature without direct negotiations. Macron, however, reiterated his opposition to forced displacement in Gaza or annexation in the West Bank, signaling a firm stance amid escalating tensions.