France officially recognized the state of Palestine during a global summit in New York, following similar moves by Western allies like Britain and Canada. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need to pave the way for peace as he made the announcement at the United Nations summit.
Despite the symbolic gesture, the recognition of Palestine by multiple countries is not expected to bring immediate changes on the ground, where Israel continues to oppose the idea of a Palestinian state and remains engaged in conflict with Hamas.
The summit, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed to boost Palestinian morale in their pursuit of statehood. However, the longstanding conflict and the failure of the two-state solution proposed in the past have complicated the peace process.
While many European nations have now acknowledged the state of Palestine, Germany and Italy have shown reluctance to follow suit. Germany, historically supportive of Israel due to the Holocaust, has become more critical of Israeli policies and insists on a political process leading to a two-state solution before recognizing Palestine.
Italy, on the other hand, views recognizing a Palestinian state as potentially counterproductive. Meanwhile, Russia reiterated its belief in the necessity of a two-state solution to resolve the conflict, emphasizing the complexity and urgency of the situation.
In response to these developments, Israel, facing global condemnation for its actions in Gaza, including a recent ground assault, is considering annexing parts of the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls to end the campaign until Hamas is eliminated and has expressed defiance towards recognizing a Palestinian state.
The potential annexation by Israel could have repercussions, alienating key countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which has warned against undermining the peace agreements brokered by the U.S. in the region. The U.S. administration has also cautioned against actions targeting Israel, including those taken by France.
As tensions escalate, there is a growing push to preserve the two-state solution before it becomes unattainable. France’s initiative to recognize Palestine is seen as a step towards reinvigorating efforts for peace, particularly amidst escalating violence and uncertainties in the region.
