France officially recognized the State of Palestine on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York, aligning itself with several Western nations that have taken similar steps. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement, stating, “The time has come. True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, I declare that today France recognizes the State of Palestine.” His declaration was met with a standing ovation at the UNGA.
Following suit, countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, and Portugal also acknowledged Palestinian statehood over the weekend. However, this recognition has faced criticism, with accusations that it could be deemed a “hollow gesture” if these nations fail to act against the violence in Gaza. Palestinians celebrated the recognition with a flag-raising ceremony outside their embassy to the UK, shortly after Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement.
Amnesty International UK expressed concerns, noting, “Recognition is no doubt significant but it will be a hollow gesture if the UK does not also seek to end Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation, and system of apartheid against the Palestinian people.” The organization urged the UK government to halt arms exports, divest from companies selling arms to Israel, impose sanctions on Israeli officials involved in crimes under international law, and stop trade with settlements.
Brazilian President Lula remarked, “We salute the countries that recognized Palestine as Brazil did in 2010. We are the vast majority of 193 members of the UN.” He emphasized that “statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward,” a sentiment echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In anticipation of the announcement, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated with the flags of both Palestine and Israel, alongside a white dove and olive branch, as a gesture for peace amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Tags: France, Western allies, Israel, recognize, state of Palestine
Hashtags: #France #join #Western #allies #Israel #recoginse #state #Palestine
