Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France may recognize a Palestinian state by June, calling it a reward for terrorism.
“A unilateral recognition of a fictional Palestinian state, by any country, in the reality that we all know, will be a prize for terror and a boost for Hamas,” Saar posted on X late Wednesday. He warned that such actions would undermine efforts for peace and stability in the region.
Macron announced earlier that France intends to move toward recognizing a Palestinian state within months, potentially during a UN conference in New York co-hosted with Saudi Arabia. France has long supported a two-state solution, but formal recognition would mark a significant policy shift.
The move comes amid renewed international focus on the Israel-Palestinian conflict following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and other countries. Macron made his comments after meeting leaders in Egypt, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
“A unilateral recognition of a fictional Palestinian state, by any country, in the reality that we all know, will be a prize for terror and a boost for Hamas,” Saar posted on X late Wednesday. He warned that such actions would undermine efforts for peace and stability in the region.
Macron announced earlier that France intends to move toward recognizing a Palestinian state within months, potentially during a UN conference in New York co-hosted with Saudi Arabia. France has long supported a two-state solution, but formal recognition would mark a significant policy shift.
The move comes amid renewed international focus on the Israel-Palestinian conflict following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and other countries. Macron made his comments after meeting leaders in Egypt, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
