Recognition of the Palestinian State: Macron could postpone his decision, according to The Guardian

According to the British daily The GuardianEmmanuel Macron would plan to postpone the official announcement of recognition of the Palestinian State, initially scheduled for June at a UN conference in New York. The French president had suggested last month that France could take this symbolic step, which would make it the first country of the G7 to recognize Palestine. But according to The GuardianBritish officials now doubt that Paris goes to the end, which could also delay a possible similar decision from the United Kingdom.

Still according to the British newspaper, France seeks to prevent this recognition from being interpreted as a reward for Hamas. Israel has already warned Emmanuel Macron, believing that such a decision would be perceived as an encouragement to the Islamist organization. To anticipate criticism, Paris tries to strengthen the role of a reformed Palestinian authority so that it can administer the Gaza Strip.

Macron said in April: “We have to go to recognition, and we will do it in the coming months. I also want to participate in a collective dynamic, which allows all those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in return, which many do not do. »»

But according to Michel Duclos, former diplomat and researcher at the Montaigne Institute, quoted by The Guardianopinions differ in the Élysée: “My impression is that there are as many opinions on recognition as there are advisers around the president. And if Macron awaits recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia in exchange, he may wait a long time. The UN conference scheduled for June 2 to 4, co -chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aims to revive the two -state solution. However, in the absence of a lasting ceasefire or standardization between Israel and Riyadh, French recognition seems less and less likely in the short term.