France Recognizes Palestinian Statehood at UN, Urging Renewed Push for Two-State Solution Despite Israel’s Opposition

Published: September-23-2025, 14:00 EDT

France’s Recognition of Palestine Marks a Turning Point

France officially recognized Palestinian statehood during a United Nations meeting on Monday, signaling renewed international pressure for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The announcement, delivered by French President Emmanuel Macron, drew strong applause from world leaders and the Palestinian delegation, underscoring the growing global divide over the path to peace.

The recognition comes as the war in Gaza continues, with little sign of a ceasefire. Despite the symbolic weight of the move, experts caution that it may have limited immediate impact on the ground, where fighting and settlement expansion persist.

Macron Declares French Recognition at the UN

Speaking before the U.N. General Assembly, Macron said France was acting “true to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.” His declaration that “France recognizes the state of Palestine” was met with a standing ovation by many of the 140 world leaders present.

Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour and his delegation rose to applaud the decision. Macron’s statement followed similar announcements from Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco. A day earlier, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal had also voiced recognition.

Germany, Italy, and Japan participated in the meeting but withheld recognition, highlighting divisions among Western powers on how best to advance peace.

Limited Immediate Impact Amid Ongoing Conflict

While recognition carries political and symbolic weight, it is unlikely to alter realities on the ground in the near term. Israel continues military operations in Gaza and is advancing settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that “statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward,” countering Israeli arguments that recognition amounts to rewarding Hamas for its October 7, 2023 attack, which reignited the conflict two years ago.

Palestinian President Calls for End to Violence

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the meeting by video after the United States revoked his visa. He condemned all violence, including Hamas’s October 7 attack, and called for an end to the cycle of bloodshed.

Abbas announced that the Palestinian Authority had ended payments to families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned by Israel, a longstanding demand from both Israel and Washington. He also extended New Year greetings to Jewish communities worldwide on Rosh Hashanah, emphasizing a message of coexistence.

Despite recognizing Israel and supporting a two-state solution, the Palestinian Authority faces criticism from many Palestinians who view its leadership as corrupt and increasingly authoritarian.

“Growing Global Support for Palestinian StatehoodNearly three-quarters of U.N. member states already recognize Palestine, though many major Western powers had previously withheld recognition, arguing it should only come through direct negotiations with Israel.”

For many Palestinians, the wave of recognitions has sparked cautious optimism. “This is a glimmer of hope for the Palestinian people,” said Fawzi Nour al-Deen, who was among thousands fleeing Gaza City. The long-standing vision of a Palestinian state includes the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war.

Israel Rejects International Push

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government remains firmly opposed to Palestinian statehood. Officials argue that recognition rewards Hamas and undermines Israel’s security. Netanyahu has suggested Israel might respond with unilateral actions, including potential annexation of West Bank territory.

U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric dismissed such threats, stating that peace efforts should continue regardless of intimidation. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, a signatory of the 2020 Abraham Accords with Israel, warned that annexation would be a “red line” for regional stability.

Netanyahu is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week to discuss Israel’s response. The Trump administration has also opposed Palestinian recognition, blaming it for disrupting ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

Regional Diplomacy and Divided Palestinian Politics

France and Saudi Arabia recently advanced a phased plan for a reformed Palestinian Authority to eventually govern both Gaza and the West Bank with international support. The proposal passed overwhelmingly in the General Assembly earlier this month, with 142 nations in favor.

However, Palestinian politics remain deeply divided. Hamas, which won elections in 2006, formally seeks a state covering all of historic Palestine, though at times has indicated conditional openness to a state within the 1967 borders. This ideological split between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority continues to hinder unified governance.

Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been stalled since the early 1990s, collapsing repeatedly due to violence and settlement expansion. Analysts argue that without progress toward a two-state solution, the region faces stark choices: continued occupation, or a binational state that could threaten Israel’s Jewish majority.

Conclusion

France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood at the U.N. has injected new momentum into long-stalled peace efforts, even as conflict continues to escalate in Gaza. While symbolic, the move highlights growing international frustration with the lack of progress and raises pressure on Israel and its allies to reconsider their positions.

For Palestinians, recognition offers a renewed sense of hope, though the realities of occupation, political division, and ongoing war mean statehood remains far from realization. The international community, meanwhile, faces the challenge of turning diplomatic statements into concrete steps toward lasting peace.