Frustration, Gaza alarm drove Macron to go it alone on Palestine recognition

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Source: Reuters

Frustration, Gaza alarm drove Macron to go it alone on Palestine recognition

By John Irish and Michel Rose
July 26, 2025 6:03 AM EDT Updated 23 hours ago

PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would become the first Western member of the United Nations Security Council to recognise a Palestinian state in September has caused diplomatic ructions from the Middle East through Europe to Washington.

But it did not come out of the blue.

When Macron visited the Egyptian town of Al-Arish on the border with Gaza in April, he was struck by the mounting humanitarian crisis and made clear on his return home that Paris would soon opt for recognition.

Working with Saudi Arabia, Macron came up with a plan to have France plus G7 allies Britain and Canada recognise Palestinian statehood, while pushing Arab states to adopt a softer stance towards Israel through a United Nations conference. But despite weeks of talks he failed to get others on board.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/frustration-gaza-alarm-drove-macron-go-it-alone-palestine-recognition-2025-07-26/

Alternate link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/frustration-gaza-alarm-drove-macron-083808230.html