French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France may recognize Palestine as a state "in the coming months." 

Speaking on France 5 television, Macron outlined his intention to finalize the move during a United Nations conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which France will co-chair with Saudi Arabia in June.

Macron emphasized that the decision would not be made for political gain but because, in his view, it will ultimately be the right course of action. He said, "We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months."

Palestine's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, welcomed the potential recognition, calling it a "step in the right direction" that supports the rights of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution.

However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would strengthen Hamas. 

He argued that such recognition would "boost terror" and would not lead to peace or stability in the region.

To date, 146 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, though several major Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, have not granted recognition.

Macron suggested that France's recognition of Palestine could encourage a "collective dynamic" in the Middle East, potentially leading to mutual recognition between Israel and some Arab nations. 

He also stated that recognizing Palestine would enable France to clearly oppose those who deny Israel's right to exist, such as Iran.

A formal recognition by France would represent a significant shift in its policy and could strain relations with Israel, which believes such actions are premature.

Source: Al Jazeera 

BDST: 1226 HRS, APR 10, 2025
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