Macron says France preparing to recognize Palestine statehood
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French President Emmanuel Macron says his country is preparing to recognize Palestine as a state amid the unfolding genocide and aggression on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
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French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech at the Franco-Danish Economic Forum at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, Tuesday, April 1, 2025 (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that France is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state within the coming months, with a formal move possibly taking place at a United Nations conference in New York this June.
Speaking to France 5 television, Macron said, "We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months." He noted that the planned recognition could be finalized during a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at settling the Palestinian issue.
"Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalize this movement of mutual recognition (of a Palestinian state) by several parties," Macron stated.
Countries recognize Palestine
In May of last year, Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state in separate statements issued consecutively.
A Spanish government spokeswoman announced that Spain formally recognized a Palestinian state in a decision approved by its cabinet in parallel with similar moves by Ireland and Norway.
Pilar Alegria said the cabinet had "adopted an important decision to recognise a Palestinian state", which had "one objective: to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain is recognizing a Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with "East Jerusalem as its capital."
No changes post-1967
In a televised address, Sanchez added that Spain wouldn't recognize any changes to Palestinian borders after 1967 unless all the parties agreed on them. The Spanish government will formally approve the recognition later today. This was followed by Armenia a month later.
He noted that recognizing Palestinian statehood is an "essential" step for achieving peace in the region.
The move meant 147 of the United Nations' 193 member states now recognize Palestinian statehood.
In 2014, Sweden became the first EU member to recognize a Palestinian state.
It followed six other European countries that took the step before joining the bloc: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
The Hamas Movement welcomed the announcement by Ireland, Norway, and Spain of recognizing the State of Palestine, urging countries around the world to follow in their footsteps and recognize the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, support their struggle for liberation and independence, and end the Israeli occupation.
