France could recognise Palestinian state 'in June' - Macron [View all]
Source: RTE
France plans to recognise a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a United Nations conference in New York in June on settling the Israel-Palestinian conflict, President Emmanuel Macron has said.
"We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months," Mr Macron told France 5 television in an interview broadcast yesterday. "Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalise this movement of mutual recognition by several parties," he added. "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.
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," he added. France has long championed a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, including after the 7 October 2023 attack by Palestinian militants Hamas on Israel. However formal recognition of a Palestinian state by France would mark a major policy switch.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has denounced Mr Macron's announcement, saying it would be a "prize" for terrorism.
Read more: https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2025/0410/1506888-france-palestine/
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