A Palestinian state could have prevented Oct.7: Macron advisor
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Ofer Bronstein, advisor to Macron, said the October 7 operation might have been avoided if a Palestinian state existed.
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French President Emmanuel Macron's advisor, Ofer Bronstein, undated (File photo)
French President Emmanuel Macron’s longtime advisor on Palestinian affairs, Ofer Bronstein, defended France’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state, asserting that the October 7 operation would not have occurred had statehood already been established.
In an interview with the Israeli broadcaster Kan, Bronstein emphasized the long-standing international consensus on the two-state solution. He stated that, "Everyone has been talking about a two-state solution for 40 years."
Refuting criticism that the recognition promotes violence, he stated, "It angers me that some say we are encouraging terrorism. The attack [on October 7] occurred even without a Palestinian state, and perhaps because such a state had not yet been established, what happened on October 7 happened."
Bronstein, who has been closely involved in France’s Middle East diplomacy, reiterated that Macron’s government sees the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a necessary diplomatic strategy to prevent further bloodshed.
The French recognition of Palestinian statehood aligns with growing European momentum for acknowledging Palestine as a sovereign entity. His remarks come as part of a broader defense of Macron’s Palestine policy, which has faced backlash from Israeli officials and some Western allies.
The French move has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli political leaders. Israeli news outlet Kipa labeled it a "severe diplomatic blow to Israel," while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin described it as "a stain on France’s history."
Similarly, former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, "Recognizing a Palestinian state after the October 7th massacre isn't diplomacy; it's moral collapse."
Macron says France to recognize Palestinian state
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will officially recognize the State of Palestine, as global outrage mounts over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.
In a post on X, Macron said the formal recognition will be made at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved," he wrote.
While Macron initially backed "Israel" following the outbreak of the war, his stance has shifted amid growing frustration with "Israel’s" ongoing genocide in Gaza.
"Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine,'' Macron stated. “Peace is possible.”
Macron also shared a letter he sent to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informing him of France’s decision.
With this move, France would become the most influential and powerful European nation to recognize a Palestinian state. Over 140 countries globally, including more than a dozen in Europe, have already extended recognition.
