Macron warns 'Israel' against crossing West Bank annexation red line
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French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that any attempt by "Israel" to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would constitute a red line for the United States and potentially dismantle the normalization accords.
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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the Global Citizen Awards ceremony, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that any move by "Israel" to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would cross a red line for the United States and could lead to the collapse of Arab-Israeli normalization agreements.
Speaking on France 24 following a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Macron said he had received assurances that Washington shares the European position on opposing annexation.
He revealed that he had handed Trump a three-page plan outlining a framework for the future of Palestine.
The proposal, based on the New York Declaration and backed by over 143 countries, excludes Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas from future governance in Gaza and the West Bank.
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US, Europe united on rejecting annexation
Asked about the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including the contentious E1 settlement where 3,400 new illegal housing units are planned, Macron stated, “On that topic in very clear terms the Europeans and the Americans are on the same page.”
The E1 project is widely viewed as a move to bisect the West Bank, making the formation of a contiguous Palestinian state nearly impossible.
British officials have also raised concerns that Trump could recognize Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements in retaliation for countries such as the UK, France, and Australia recognizing Palestine. Such a move, they say, would severely undermine any prospects for a two-state solution.
Threat to normalization accords and 'two-state solution'
Macron cautioned that annexing the West Bank would spell the end of the 2020 normalization accords between "Israel" and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
He added, “I think it is a red line for the USA,” pointing out that the UAE had made its position on the matter “very clear.”
The French president’s remarks offered a rare glimpse into ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at shaping a post-conflict vision for Gaza and the wider region.
If Trump holds firm on rejecting annexation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face political fallout, as hardline factions within his far-right coalition have been pressuring for complete or partial annexation of the West Bank.
Read more: UAE may downgrade ties as 'Israel' pushes West Bank annexation
Macron criticizes Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy
Macron criticized Netanyahu’s military strategy in Gaza, calling it ineffective and detrimental to both hostages and civilians.
“There are just as many Hamas fighters as before. Total war, from a practical point of view, is not working. This war is a failure,” he said.
He emphasized that the fate of captives and Gaza’s civilian population should not be entrusted to those who do not prioritize their release. “Netanyahu’s first priority is not the release of hostages, otherwise he would not have launched the latest offensive on Gaza City, nor would he have struck negotiators in Qatar,” he said.
Macron described the initial stage of his plan as focused on achieving a ceasefire and securing the release of all hostages. He said he had directly appealed to Trump, stating: “You have a major role to play and you want to see peace in the world.”
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff disclosed that the US had also presented a 21-point peace proposal to Arab and Muslim leaders during a meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “We’re hopeful – and I might say even confident – that in the coming days we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough,” Witkoff said.
Pressure builds for sanctions in Europe
Macron warned that if fighting continues in Gaza, European states would have to consider additional measures, including potential sanctions. “Obviously,” he replied when asked if sanctions were on the table.
While acknowledging divisions within the European Union, particularly resistance from countries like Germany and Italy, Macron said he was working to build consensus.
He reiterated France’s recognition of Palestine as a means to revive peace negotiations and isolate Hamas politically. “The objective of some is not to fight Hamas but rather to undermine the possibility of a path to peace,” he noted, adding: “There is no Hamas in the West Bank.”
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According to Macron, any future governance structure for Gaza and the West Bank would exclude Hamas and involve a reformed Palestinian Authority. While no timeline was given, Macron stressed the importance of offering Palestinians a political horizon.
“If you don’t give a group of people a political way out for their own legitimate existence when the international community recognized that 78 years ago, you are going to lead them to a complete loss of hope – or even worse violence,” he concluded.
