Macron: Israel's attempt to annex West Bank would be a 'red line' for US

Any attempt by Israel to annex parts of the West Bank would mark a "red line" for the United States - and the end of the Arab-Israeli normalization of relations, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron claims that Donald Trump has also given him this commitment, the Guardian reported.

Macron also revealed that he had presented Trump with a three-page plan for a future solution to Palestine, inspired by the so-called New York Declaration, which was endorsed by more than 140 countries. The document envisages the exclusion of Hamas from the future governance of Gaza and the West Bank. The aim, according to Macron, is to bring the US, Europe and the Arab countries on the same line.

On France 24, he stressed that there is a clear consensus between Europe and the US on plans to expand Israeli settlements - including the construction of 3 400 houses in the E1 corridor. However, British officials fear that Trump could recognise Israeli sovereignty over illegal settlements in retaliation for the recognition of Palestine by some countries, including France, Australia and the UK.

Macron warned that any annexation would end the 2020 Abrahamic Accords, which normalised Israel's relations with parts of the Arab world and are considered one of the major diplomatic trophies of Trump's first presidency. "The United Arab Emirates was very clear about that." said the president. He added: "I think that's a red line for the US."

If Trump indeed insists on a ban on annexation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be in serious trouble - part of his far-right coalition is calling for partial or full annexation of the West Bank. But Macron has stressed that without US pressure, peace cannot be approached: "America is the only country that has real leverage." With that sentence, he said, he was appealing directly to Trump: "You have a vital role to play and you want to see the world at peace." All this took place during their meeting in New York, he said. Guardian.

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff He added that the president has presented Arab and Muslim leaders with his own 21-point plan for peace. "We are optimistic and believe we will soon announce a breakthrough," he said.

Macron also defended French recognition of a Palestinian state. In his view, this opened the way to a peace process aimed at isolating Hamas, demilitarising it and dismantling its structures. He warned, however, that part of the Israeli cabinet was not seeking peace, but to thwart it: "There is no Hamas in the West Bank. The aim of some is to undermine the chances of a political solution."

He strongly opposed Netanyahu's "total war" strategy, which he said had failed: "There are as many Hamas fighters as before. Total war is practically not working. It's a failure." He added that the hostages and civilians of Gaza must not be left in the hands of those for whom their fate is not a priority.

Macron said his plan envisages the gradual replacement of Hamas by a reformed Palestinian Authority, albeit without a specific timeframe. But he warned that if a ceasefire could not be achieved soon, Europe would have to consider further steps - including sanctions. He admitted that getting a majority for sanctions in the EU was difficult, especially because of the attitude of Germany and Italy, but promised to try to overcome this opposition.

He concluded by pointing out that the Palestinians must be offered a political perspective: "Not giving a nation whose existence was recognised by the international community 78 years ago a political path to the future will lead to a loss of hope - and perhaps even more violence." This is the core of his message, summarised the Guardian.

gnews.cz - GH