PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that France will officially recognize the existence of the State of Palestine. He made the announcement via his official social media accounts, according to AFP. The formal act is expected to take place in September during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
With this move, France joins the more than 140 UN member states that already recognise Palestine as an independent state. Macron stressed that the decision is intended to strengthen efforts to find a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with the principles of international law and UN resolutions. "It is time for France to assume its responsibility and contribute to a peaceful solution that will lead to the creation of two states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security," Macron said.
Israel has not yet commented on the announcement. In the past, however, Israeli authorities have repeatedly criticised unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood as a move that they say undermines the peace process. France's action follows similar statements by several other European countries. In May this year, Spain, Ireland and Norway, for example, recognised Palestine as a state. These moves were strongly condemned by the Israeli government, while the Palestinian leadership hailed them as an important diplomatic victory.
The French position may have a significant impact on European diplomacy and other international negotiations on the Middle East. According to observers, this is one of the strongest signals of support for Palestinian statehood by a UN Security Council member state.
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