September 20, 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron stirred a diplomatic storm by announcing his plan to officially recognize a Palestinian state! This hot move, revealed during a speech at a UN General Assembly side event in New York, has already set other countries like Australia, Belgium, Canada, and the UK to join France in recognition. It’s a clear sign of growing global frustration with Israel’s tough blockade and attacks on Gaza, which started after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. This is history in the making! France and the UK will be the first permanent members of the UN Security Council, and along with Canada, the first G7 nations to make this bold recognition. French foreign ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux emphasized that "This recognition is not the end of our diplomatic efforts. It is not a symbolic recognition. It is part of a broader and very concrete action." He pointed to a French-Saudi roadmap that will support this move. On Israeli TV, Macron defended his decision, calling it "the best way to isolate Hamas." But not everyone is thrilled. Diplomats from both sides hint that Israel may strike back hard, though probably without cutting off relations with France. Possible reprisals could include shutting down France’s consulate in Jerusalem, heavily used by Palestinians, or annexing more parts of the West Bank where Israeli settlements grow against international warnings. "There is going to be a lot of noise," said one anonymous diplomat. Agnes Levallois from the Paris-based Institute for Research and Study of the Mediterranean and Middle East said, "The Israelis are prepared for anything, and the French response is likely to be quite limited." She warned that without concrete sanctions against Israel, Palestinians might end up paying the price. Another French official called West Bank annexation "a clear red line" and "the worst possible violation of UN resolutions." The United States also strongly opposes France’s move. US ambassador to Paris Charles Kushner expressed his displeasure on social media, pointing out "unmet French conditions". Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, told AFP, "From the beginning, we have made it clear that recognition of a Palestinian state by France, without any conditions, would complicate the situation on the ground rather than advance peace." He added France should first demand the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Meanwhile, Palestinian representative in France, Hala Abou Hassira, called for France to go even further with "concrete sanctions, such as an arms embargo on Israel, a severance of relations with Israel which includes the total termination of the association agreement between the European Union and Israel." Insiders say Macron's decision came during a visit in April from the Egyptian border at El-Arish, where he met wounded Palestinians and witnessed the harsh effects of the blockade. Facing challenges at home and struggling to resolve Russia’s war on Ukraine, this move helps him carve a bold legacy. A close source said Macron sees this recognition "as a diplomatic lever to put pressure on Netanyahu." Michel Duclos, former ambassador and expert at the Montaigne Institute, believes "this could become a success for France," recalling France’s strong no to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 under Jacques Chirac. Will Macron’s daring diplomatic gamble pay off? Brace yourselves for a spicy mix of politics, power, and pressure in the Middle East!

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Tags: Emmanuel macron, Palestinian state, Israel, Diplomacy, Un security council, Middle east,