France is preparing to recognise a Palestinian state as the United Nations’ centrepiece diplomatic week gets under way today, following a string of Western governments symbolically endorsing statehood and provoking Israel’s fury.
Recognition by Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal on Sunday of a Palestinian state has intensified pressure on Israel as it continues its war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands, devastated the enclave and drawn sharp criticism from its allies.
President Emmanuel Macron has indicated France will follow suit today as he prepares to host talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the moribund two-state solution – Palestinian and Israeli coexistence.
Isolation strategy
“They want a nation, they want a state, and we should not push them towards Hamas,” Macron told CBS News’s “Face the Nation” programme on Sunday, adding that the move would help isolate the armed group.
He also said he would make the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October 2023 attack on Israel a precondition for opening an embassy to the Palestinian state.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the recognition moves do not “promote peace, but on the contrary further destabilise the region and undermine the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future.”
World leaders gather
More than 140 world leaders will descend on New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly summit, which will be dominated by the question of the Palestinians’ future.
One world leader who will miss the gathering is Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president whom Washington denied a visa to attend, along with his officials.
That earned a rebuke from the General Assembly, which voted 145 to five to exceptionally allow Abbas to speak via video link.
ALSO READ: South Africa urges more countries to stand up to Israel’s genocidal activities
Two-state solution push
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that “a negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity.”
“For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. But this process must begin now,” he said ahead of the General Assembly.
Netanyahu’s defiance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday his position that there would be no Palestinian state and vowed to accelerate the creation of new settlements.
Two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, went further, calling for the annexation of the West Bank.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres told AFP on Friday: “We should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation.”
Mounting casualties
The 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1 219 Israelis, mostly civilians, according to official data.
Israeli military operations since then have killed 65 062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, in the Gaza Strip according to the Hamas-run health ministry – figures the UN considers reliable.
Week ahead
All eyes will be on Netanyahu when he takes to the podium on Friday, as well as on his main backer, US President Donald Trump – staunchly opposed to recognising a Palestinian state – who will speak on Tuesday.
As well as Gaza, the week’s meetings will spotlight the reimposition of sanctions on Iran’s nuclear programme, the conflict in Ukraine, and Russia’s violations of its neighbours’ airspace.
The Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss Estonia’s allegation that Russian aircraft violated its airspace.
The humanitarian catastrophe ravaging the small Palestinian territory will top the agenda, two years after the beginning of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
You must be logged in to post a comment.