In a bold move set to shake global diplomacy, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognise the state of Palestine this September at the UN General Assembly, igniting fierce backlash from Israel and the United States.

Posting the declaration on X, Macron shared a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, vowing to push recognition forward and rally international allies.
âFrance is committed to a just peace. I will make this declaration in September at the UN,â Macron wrote.
If carried out, France would become the first major Western power to endorse Palestinian statehood, potentially shifting global momentum long dominated by smaller nations.
But the fallout was immediate.
đźđ± Israel Lashes Out
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the move “a reward for terror”, accusing France of emboldening Hamas and risking another Iranian-backed proxy state.
âA Palestinian state in these conditions is not a peace partnerâitâs a launchpad for Israelâs destruction,â he warned.
Defense Minister Israel Katz went further, branding it âa disgraceâ and a âsurrender to terrorism.â
đșđž Washington Joins the Rebuke
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Macronâs plan as âreckless,â accusing him of undermining peace and playing into Hamas propaganda.
âThis is a slap to the victims of October 7th,â Rubio posted on X.
đšđŠ Canada Chimes InâWith a Twist
Canadian PM Mark Carney echoed calls for peace but sharply criticised Israelâs handling of Gaza, accusing it of breaching international law by blocking humanitarian aid.
Canada urged an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas, and respect for the territorial integrity of Palestinian regions.
đ A Shift in Global Stance?
Despite U.S. warnings that unilateral recognition could “backfire diplomatically,” Macron is moving ahead, hoping to revive the fading two-state solution.
Franceâs original plan to launch the initiative at a co-hosted conference with Saudi Arabia in June was delayed due to the Israel-Iran conflict and U.S. pressure. Now, Paris plans to use the UNGA spotlight in September to rally support.
đ„ Behind the Scenes: Israeli Pressure & Warnings
Sources say Israel has privately warned France of consequences ranging from cutting intelligence ties to annexing parts of the West Bank if Paris goes through with recognition.
Tel Aviv has lobbied hard, calling the move a ânuclear bombâ for bilateral ties.
đïž Palestinian Leadership Reacts
Palestinian Authorityâs Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh thanked France, saying Macronâs stance reflects a âcommitment to international law and Palestinian rights.â
As 40 foreign ministers prepare to meet in New York, Franceâs announcement has already changed the gameâpotentially setting off a diplomatic chain reaction that could reshape the Middle East narrative.

