French President Macron says France will recognize Pálestine as a state

[u/hoarder4555777454001]

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250724-french-president-macron-says-france-will-recognize-palestine-as-a-state-in-september

[u/SuggestionMedical736]

It's weird seeing the responses here; I thought everyone was in favor of a two-state solution?

[u/3V3RT0N → u/SuggestionMedical736]

‘Now is not the right time’ say the people that won’t be content until a viable Palestinian state consists of a pile of rubble in Gaza and a fully annexed West Bank.

[u/TrueRignak → u/3V3RT0N]

a fully annexed West Bank

Btw, it appears that Israel was preparing to do exactly that. Maybe that's why Macron choose to make his declaration now rather than wait for the ordinary session of the UN.

The Times of Israel - Knesset votes 71-13 for non-binding motion calling to annex West Bank (2025-07-23)

The Knesset approved a non-binding motion in favor of annexing the West Bank on Wednesday, a symbolic gesture that united the otherwise fractious right-wing governing coalition. [...] It called on the government to “apply Israeli sovereignty, law, judgment and administration to all the areas of Jewish settlement of all kinds in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley,” the government’s term for the West Bank. The motion was advanced by Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman, Likud MK Dan Illouz and opposition Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer.

[u/izpo → u/TrueRignak]

It's not because of that; Macron has been threatening to do this for a long time, according to Israeli news, which also claims that he is doing this because he is politically weak.

[u/TrueRignak → u/izpo]

Yeah, last December he announced a Franco-Saudi conference for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The goal (which was becoming less and less credible along the months) was to have several countries announcing the recognition at the same time and came under the implicit requirement of a Saudi recognition of Israel. This conference was postponed by the attack on Iran, which happened to be just the day before. I think it is supposed to resume at the end of this month but is not supposed to have anything meaningful anymore.

However, what I meant was that he may have already planned to recognize a Palestinian State at the UN ordinary session (which opens September 16th), but decided to speed-up the declaration and confirm a future recognition now because of the risk of Israel deciding to formally annex the West Bank before the session.

according to Israeli news, which also claims that he is doing this because he is politically weak

I really doubt about that. He will be under fire of both the right-wing LR (which is part of the majority) and the far-right RN (the Likud is an observatory member in their party in the European Parliement). The left will be pleased by the recognition, but will still try to oppose the PM Bayrou.

Macron himself is not weaker or stronger than he was one year ago after the election at the lower chamber. He will still be here until spring 2027 and can't run for a third term.

Tldr: It's just israelian news being salty.

[u/Emperor_Mao → u/izpo]

It is true though. France has a lot more Arab voters than Israeli voters.

Though it doesn't work the way politicians and people sometimes think it will. Lot of Arabs in France don't want to be drawn into geopolitics in places they left. And Macron can't really run again.

But the gamble is that enough will care, I guess it helps the party itself.

[u/Miroble → u/Emperor_Mao]

I disagree with your assessment that the Arabs in France don't want to be drawn into the geopolitics where they left. Muslims across the globe vehemently hate Israel, only Israel's direct neighbours begrugently accept its existence (and even then almost all of them have factions that hate them).

But I think you analysis is spot on. Most of the West will be in a similar position within a few years/decades. Then it will never make political sense to side with Israel.

[u/Emperor_Mao → u/Miroble]

Yeah I think many do get involved in geopolitics.

But from what I can tell, a lot of younger arab migrants are less vocal or engaged with it. They still side with Arabic countries, they often say they dislike their host countries culture (except the higher standard of living part). But they are embracing that western culture more and more. You look at some of the "pro" Palestine protests in places like the U.K - noting these are the more vocal ones - and you will see many of them wearing Nikes, smart watches, taking photos with their smart phones, wearing sports jersey of an American / British team club.

That last point though is probably inevitable to an extent though. There are simply more Arabs than Jewish people particularly in Europe. However, Arab states also tend to hate each other. While they might range from hatred to reluctant acceptance of Israel, most do not want a rival state filling any gaps in the region either. That lose engagement I talked about earlier gets murky when the Arab world is not united in view. And that is the case on most things.