French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Paris could recognize a Palestinian state in June, adding that some Middle Eastern countries could recognize Israel in return.
“We must move towards recognizing (a Palestinian state). And over the next few months we will do it. I am not doing it to please anyone. I will do it because at some point it will be fair,” Macron told France 5 television, Hina reported.
“And since I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, this would also allow those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in return, something that many of them do not do,” Macron added.
Although nearly 150 countries have recognized Palestine, most Western powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan.
Countries that do not recognize Israel include Iran, Syria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
“Our goal is to chair a conference in June, together with Saudi Arabia, at which we could finalize a plan for mutual recognition,” Macron said.
Macron is organizing a conference on the two-state solution with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in June, and this gathering, according to diplomatic sources, could be the “opportune moment” that France is waiting for to eventually recognize a Palestinian state.
As a reminder, during a visit to Egypt, Macron spoke with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday about the political aspects of the visit, with an emphasis on the Gaza Strip. On that occasion, he supported the Arab plan for Gaza, “firmly opposing the population transfer” proposed by Donald Trump, but he supported Trump’s position that Hamas should not have any role in the Palestinian enclave in the future.
Macron supported the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza as “realistic” and, unlike the American plan, does not envisage the displacement of Gaza’s residents.
But Macron also pointed out that the plan should be “further strengthened” in terms of “security” and “management” of that Palestinian territory.
“Hamas must not participate in any way in governance and must no longer pose any threat to Israel,” Macron insisted in his conversation with al-Sisi.
