France’s Macron Announces Intent to Recognize Palestinian State

Latest Developments

French Letter of Intent: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24 that Paris would formally recognize a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly. “In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron said in a social media post, which was uploaded in French, English, Arabic, and Hebrew. The announcement came after France had previously prepared to co-host a summit with Saudi Arabia in June, pushing the creation of an independent Palestinian state — a conference postponed by the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran.
Hamas Welcomes Decision: The Iran-backed Hamas terrorist organization welcomed Macron’s announcement, calling the “important French Position a political development that reflects the growing international conviction in the justness of the Palestinian cause.” The group also said that the move shows “the failure of the occupation to distort the facts or obstruct the will of free peoples” and called on other nations, especially in the European Union, to take the same step in recognizing a Palestinian State.
U.S., Israel Say Recognition Would Reward Terrorism: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the “United States strongly” rejected Macron’s “plan to recognize a Palestinian State,” calling the decision “reckless” and one that “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Jerusalem “strongly condemn[s] “President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre,” adding that “such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.”

FDD Expert Response

“The recognition of a Palestinian state as a full member of the United Nations, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), would immediately trigger U.S. funding cuts to the international organization. The Foreign Relations Authorization Act FY 1990 and 1991 section 414 created a prohibition on U.S. funding to the United Nations in the event the PLO is recognized as a member state party. The PLO and Palestinian Authority (PA) remain inexorably linked, and so a declaration of statehood and member status would force a U.S. funding halt. If France’s advocacy leads the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state as a full member, it will compel the United States to cut its estimated 25 percent contribution to the peacekeeping budget and U.S. funds for assessed and voluntary contributions, which make up 22 percent of the United Nations’ regular budget.” — Tyler Stapleton, Director of Government Relations at FDD Action

“Recognizing a non-existent Palestinian state after Hamas’s October 7 atrocities tells the Palestinians that violence works, rewards Hamas for immiserating Gazans, and makes peace less likely by encouraging the Palestinians not to budge from their maximalist demands. Moreover, pressuring only one side in a conflict — Israel — is a recipe for disaster. Not doing something is always an option, and it’s a much better one than Macron’s decision to stick his derriere where it doesn’t belong — pardon my French.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst