French President Emmanuel Macron had publicly framed recognition of “Palestine” as “a moral duty and political requirement,” even suggesting it could be linked to Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel. However, according to The Guardian, French officials have reportedly informed their Israeli counterparts that the upcoming conference will not be the moment for such a move. Instead, the focus will now pivot to outlining steps towards recognition, contingent on a series of prerequisites from the Palestinian Arabs. These include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, comprehensive reform of the Palestinian Authority, economic reconstruction, and the cessation of Hamas rule in Gaza.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state at the conference would have been a "symbolic" decision. He emphasized France's "particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, suggesting that such a step would be inappropriate without the support of key allies. (Read More)
