French President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state echoes the fatal appeasement of 1938 — a historic blunder that could embolden Israel’s enemies and destabilize the free world.
With the self‑assured arrogance only Paris can muster, French President Emmanuel Macron — already eight years into a disastrous tenure — has announced that in September, at the United Nations, he will “solemnly” recognize the State of Palestine.
Macron claims his decision is based on “commitments” from Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas — a man elected in 2005 to a single four‑year term who canceled all future elections and still clings to power. The world has seen this before: a French leader, buoyed by hubris, attempting to decide the fate of a democratic nation based on the empty assurances of a dictator.
From Munich to Manhattan: A Dangerous Déjà Vu
In September 1938, French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier and British PM Neville Chamberlain signed the infamous Munich Agreement, handing over part of Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler in exchange for hollow promises of peace. German diarist Friedrich Kellner condemned them as blind to the obvious — Germany’s massive rearmament and Hitler’s openly aggressive intentions.
Chamberlain returned to London beaming: “Peace for our time.” Daladier, privately disgusted by the cheering crowds, muttered: “Idiots! They believe I am bringing them peace.”
Six weeks later, Hitler unleashed Kristallnacht against Germany’s Jews. Ten months after Munich, his armies crushed Poland in a lightning campaign. The “peace” of 1938 became six years of war and genocide.
Ignoring History, Inviting Disaster
Macron’s move mirrors Munich’s folly: carving up a democratic ally to appease aggressive forces. The dictators of this era are the Islamic regimes and movements that partnered with Nazi Germany during WWII — and today openly vow to erase Israel from the map.
Like Munich, Macron’s act will not prevent war. It will hasten it.
Kellner’s warning still resounds: “Weak democracies produce demagogues like Mussolini and Hitler… Such iniquity has found a hard and bitter punishment.”
The Arab Street Is Not Paris
The so‑called “State of Palestine” is not a peaceful democracy. It is ruled by factions that glorify terrorism, reward the murder of Jews, and seek Israel’s destruction. Recognizing such a regime sends one message: terrorism works.
Meanwhile, France and the UK are already reeling from waves of mass Muslim migration — an infiltration without tanks, changing the demographics and politics of Europe from within.
Learning from Churchill, Not Chamberlain
Winston Churchill rightly called WWII “the Unnecessary War” — unnecessary because it could have been stopped if free nations had stood firm early. The same principle applies now.
Macron should be standing with Israel against the bullies of the Middle East, not rewarding them. As Kellner urged in 1941 when Hitler’s armies seemed unstoppable:
“Mankind, awake! Bring together all your might against the destroyers of peace!”
Trump Fires Back
Fortunately, the United States under President Donald Trump is not playing along. Asked about Macron’s planned announcement, Trump’s response was swift and cutting:
“What he says doesn’t matter. That statement doesn’t carry weight.”
It’s a rare moment where history is repeating itself — and where one leader seems determined not to let the past’s mistakes destroy the future.
