Sa’ar pushes to shut French consulate over Palestine statehood plan
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Gideon Sa’ar urges closing France’s al-Quds consulate after Macron vows to recognize Palestinian state at the UN, sparking backlash from "Israel".
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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar speaks during an event in al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, May 26, 2025 (AP)
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is advocating for the closure of France’s consulate in occupied al-Quds, as confirmed by an Israeli diplomat speaking to The Times of Israel, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state.
Sa'ar raised the issue during Sunday's cabinet meeting, with a decision anticipated in the near future, according to a report by Israel Hayom.
In July, Macron stated that France would officially recognize a Palestinian state during an upcoming UN session in September, prompting a series of similar declarations from other major Western nations.
France leads bid to recognize Palestinian statehood
On July 30, France and 14 other nations endorsed a declaration signaling a possible surge in future recognitions of a Palestinian state. The document, referred to as the New York Call and released by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, states that the signatories have either already recognized Palestine or are actively weighing such a move.
The New York Call was introduced during a United Nations conference focused on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian conflict, jointly led by Saudi Arabia and France, while reiterating international backing for a "two-state solution" as the genocide in Gaza continues.
The declaration demands urgent coordinated efforts to halt the war in Gaza and establish a fair and sustainable peace, while emphasizing the necessity of international assurances to enforce the "two-state solution," which includes reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian Authority.
The declaration also backs the Palestinian Authority's principle of "One State, One Government, One Law, One Gun," while detailing a proposed disarmament and reintegration framework to be implemented after a ceasefire is achieved.
