Macron Urges UK to Recognize Palestinian State as Path to Peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday called on the United Kingdom to join France in formally recognizing a Palestinian state, asserting that such recognition is the only viable path toward lasting peace and regional security.
Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the close of a three-day state visit to London, Macron stated, “I believe in the future of the two-state solution… which will allow Israel to live in peace and security with its neighbours.” He urged unity between Paris and London, declaring, “We must unite our voices… to recognize a State of Palestine and initiate this political dynamic, which is the only one consistent with a perspective of peace.”
Prime Minister Starmer, while reaffirming his government’s support for eventual Palestinian statehood, emphasized that achieving an immediate ceasefire in Gaza remains the top priority. “The focus must now be relentless on securing a ceasefire that will allow politics to take precedence over fighting,” he said. “It will allow humanitarian aid to arrive and the hostages to be cared for.”
Macron’s remarks come in the wake of an earlier French pledge to recognize Palestinian statehood at a UN conference in New York, originally scheduled for June 2024. That recognition, however, was postponed after both France and the UK walked back the plan amid diplomatic hesitations.
The Palestinian Authority has long encouraged international recognition of Palestinian statehood as a way to exert pressure on Israel and bypass direct negotiations. Critics argue such moves may hinder peace talks, while supporters see them as necessary to revitalize a stalled process.
In recent months, the momentum for recognition has accelerated:
- Spain, Ireland, and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024
- Slovenia followed in June, after its parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor
- Malta has also signaled its intention to do the same, according to Prime Minister Robert Abela
While such recognitions are largely symbolic and carry limited diplomatic weight, they reflect growing frustration over the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and are intended to signal a shift in international expectations.
As tensions continue in Gaza and calls grow for a diplomatic reset, Macron’s renewed push underscores France’s intent to lead a European realignment on the Palestinian issue—even as London remains more cautious in its approach.
