Recognizing a Palestinian state ‘not a taboo’ for France, says Macron

Paris: President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state was “not a taboo for France”, reiterating his stance that the two-state solution is the only solution for regional peace.

“The recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France,” he said in his first such comments since the start of the war in Gaza. He was speaking at a joint press conference in Paris with Jordan’s King Abdullah.

His comments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a plan for international recognition of such a state, following reports of such an initiative in The Washington Post.

The Washington Post reported that US President Joe Biden’s administration and a small group of Arab nations were working out a comprehensive plan for long-term peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

It included a firm timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state, the report said.

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Macron said that Jordan and France share a commitment and determination to achieve truly sustainable peace in the Middle East through the two-state solution.

France is prepared to contribute to peace efforts from Europe and the UN Security Council, the president stated, adding that "recognition of Palestinian state is not a taboo for France. We owe this to the Palestinians, whose aspirations were long suppressed."

Macron also urged other countries, "particularly Iran," to prevent the conflict from spillover, primarily to Lebanon and the Red Sea.

"A cease-fire is our absolute priority," he said, stressing the gravity of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. “The human toll of the war is intolerable," he added.

The French president also repeated a warning against Israel attacking the city of Rafah.

“An Israeli offensive in Rafah could only bring about an unprecedented humanitarian disaster and would be a turning point in this conflict.”

Fears of mass displacement have escalated after Netanyahu insisted that troops must push into Rafah to achieve “complete victory” over Hamas.

“I share the fears of Jordan and Egypt of mass forced displacement of the population,” Macron added. “It would be a new grave violation of international law and present a major risk of escalation for the region,” he said.

Macron on Wednesday told Netanyahu that the Gaza death toll was “intolerable” and Israel’s “operations” there “must cease,” his office said.

He stressed that a ceasefire agreement should be reached “without further delay,” adding such a deal should “guarantee the protection of all civilians and the massive inflow of emergency aid.”

He said peace could only be achieved through the “creation of a Palestinian state.”

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