France recognises Palestine at UN, pushes for two-state solution

In what is being seen as a crucial declaration at the United Nations General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced France’s recognition of the state of Palestine, calling it a necessary step to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution in the West Asia.

“Today, here in this chamber, we must pave the way for peace. With the state of Israel being self-evident, it is time to recognize the state of Palestine and cast out from these lands the vile face of terrorism to forge peace,” Macron said, warning that decades of diplomatic accords risked being undone.

The announcement came at the closing of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The meeting, part of the UNGA’s 80th session, saw 10 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Portugal and the UK, confirm or announce conditional recognition of Palestine alongside France.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said a two-state solution was the only way out of the nightmare. He further said, “We have entered in an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, addressing the conference via videoconference, hailed what he called the “irreversible path” opened by the New York Declaration, the outcome document of the summit. He reiterated the Palestinian Authority’s condemnation of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, and pledged that the militant group would have “no role in governing” a future Palestinian state.

“We stress our condemnation of the occupation’s crimes. We also condemn the killing and detention of civilians, including Hamas’ actions on October 7,” Abbas said. He vowed to hold elections after the war, draft an interim constitution within a year, and reaffirmed recognition of Israel’s right to exist.

Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese said his country was among the first to back Israel’s creation in 1947 but emphasized that the original plan “always encompassed two States.” Canadian PM Mark Carney said recognition could not be a reward for Hamas” but accused Israel’s current government of methodically blocking Palestinian statehood.