Chicago – February 16, 2024
President Emmanuel Macron declared on Friday that France will no longer oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state, implying that Paris may support a two-state solution.
A unilateral French acceptance would have little practical impact but would have symbolic and diplomatic weight.
Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed resistance to Palestinian sovereignty, stating that he will not compromise on full Israeli security authority west of Jordan, which is incompatible with a Palestinian state.
In 2014, French parliamentarians voted to urge their government to acknowledge Palestine, a symbolic step that had little bearing on France’s diplomatic posture.
Macron’s comments were the first time a French politician made such a request, highlighting Western leaders’ growing impatience.
