Macron says France will recognise a Palestinian state in September
"True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine. I will make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September," the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram.
Including France, Palestinian statehood is now recognised by 142 countries, according to an AFP tally, though Israel and the United States strongly oppose recognition.
France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state.
In addition, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday he would hold an "emergency call" on Friday with both France and Germany on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population," Macron wrote in the social media post.
"We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East."
(jp)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euractiv
11 hours ago
- Euractiv
Commission chief urges Zelenskyy to ‘preserve' independence of anti-corruption bodies
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to safeguard the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, after a bill that would have placed them under presidential control sparked heavy backlash. Ukraine must " preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine's rule of law," v on der Leyen wrote on X following her conversation with the Ukrainian leader. The warning comes after Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday approved amendments to a bill that would have placed two Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies under the supervision of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. These changes have sparked domestic protests and drawn criticism from key allies, including European leaders. In a statement on Wednesday, the Commission said von der Leyen had "strong concerns" about the legislation. By Thursday, Zelenskyy had announced a reversal of the proposed changes, after thousands took to the streets in protest. The rule of law and independence of these bodies are central to the country's accession to the EU. "Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations" Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos wrote on X following Tuesday's parliamentary vote. French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in a post on X on Sunday, stressing the importance of safeguarding the independence of both bodies as a key step toward Ukraine's EU accession. Ukraine has " achieved a lot on its European path" von der Leyen added. "It must build on these solid foundations." (de)
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Euractiv
US condemns French inquiry into social media platform X
The United States on Friday sharply condemned France's criminal investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X, calling it an attack on free speech and accusing French authorities of engaging in foreign censorship. "As part of a criminal investigation, an activist French prosecutor is requesting information on X's proprietary algorithm and has classified X as an 'organized crime group,'" the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor wrote on X. "Democratic governments should allow all voices to be heard, not silence speech they dislike. The United States will defend the free speech of all Americans against acts of foreign censorship," it added. French cybercrime prosecutors instructed police on 11 July to investigate suspected crimes, including the manipulation and extraction of data from automated systems "as part of a criminal gang." X, which Musk acquired in 2022, denied the allegations last week, calling them "politically motivated." X also said it had refused to comply with the prosecutor's request to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data. The probe follows two complaints filed in January, alleging the platform's algorithm may have been used for foreign interference in French politics. One complaint came from Eric Bothorel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party, who cited a "reduced diversity of voices and options" on the platform and criticised Musk's "personal interventions" in its management. X said it "categorically denies" all allegations and accused prosecutors of "distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech." Musk, also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has courted controversy in Europe for his political interventions, including open support for Germany's far-right AfD party ahead of this year's legislative elections in February. In January, the European Commission extended its ongoing investigation into the company under the EU's Digital Services Act and requested additional documents. Earlier this month, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski also warned that X could face repercussions in the country, following reports of antisemitic comments generated by its AI chatbot, Grok. He also urged the Commission to look into Grok's legal compliance. "Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate," Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. Claudie Moreau contributed reporting. (de)
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Euractiv
The Brief – 25 July 2025: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Good Friday afternoon, wherever you may be. Schuman was markedly quieter this morning, coffee shops are shuttered, and motorways are laden with holiday-makers heading south for the Grand Départ. Fear not, here at Euractiv HQ desks are still occupied and newsletters will still be delivered for two more weeks. And whilst the summer exodus empties a large part of the city, there's still plenty to report on. Including secluded parties in the depths of the European Parliament, where one young MEP has been hosting exclusive soirées, with DJs, beer on tap, and free pizza. Nicoletta Ionta got the invite and spilled the goods about this novel approach to politicking. The Asian tour EU leaders made a fleeting visit to the eastern hemisphere, stopping in Japan on Wednesday before piling back aboard the plane for a rather colder reception in China on Thursday. The Japan leg was a relatively amiable affair that secured an agreement to cooperate on procuring critical raw materials and strengthen business ties. Given the EU delegation's next stop, any mention of China was avoided, though the Japan mission clearly aims to reduce dependency on the world's manufacturing behemoth. Thursday's assignment – ostensibly a celebration of 50 years' diplomatic ties between the EU and China – was always going to be awkward, with Europe hooked on Chinese goods but also outraged by its support for Russia, its grip on rare earths, and disregard for human rights. Von der Leyen has hardened her tone towards this inconvenient trading partner and reiterated these grievances on the visit, though her Chinese counterparts showed little interest, leaving the Europeans to close the day with a press conference devoid of Chinese representatives. Gaza stirs European consciences The humanitarian emergency in Gaza has deteriorated for months as Israeli forces continue their ruthless assault on Hamas forces and render the war-torn region practically uninhabitable. With Palestinian civilians trapped in camps and precious little aid being delivered, acute starvation has become one more cause of death. For many in Europe, the situation has grown intolerable. But EU criticism of Israel's offensive has fallen short of sanctions, and agreements to provide more aid have failed to alleviate the crisis. In light of the situation, France announced Thursday that it will recognise the State of Palestine – a step taken by Spain and Ireland already last year. Whether this will significantly shift the dial on EU relations with Israel is not yet clear. An emergency call between France, Germany, and the United Kingdom takes place on Friday afternoon, though Merz has already said his government will not recognise a Palestinian state "in the short term". The European Parliament is also unsure whether to allow keffiyehs (the traditional Arab headdress now symbolic of solidarity with Palestine) in the building. The lack of clarity makes it likely that this will remain a point of contention – one that already has sparked skirmishes. Kids and social media A growing concern about the dangers of social media for minors has seen Brussels set guidelines for how platforms should protect children using their online services. Measures to restrict access vary between EU countries, with France leading the fight after coming down hard on porn websites last month. Under the auspices of the Digital Services Act, other countries are tightening access requirements and testing age verification. Much ado about veggie food If you thought 'Solmon' or 'Tu-nah' were inoffensive labels for non-fish alternatives, think again. The fish industry is in a flap about names that imitate the real thing and want to put an end to it (though it won't stop companies producing the actual products). "Call a spade a spade," an industry representative argued; one MEP supportive of the cause said that fish lovers should be "worried". The opposition follows a similar battle for the right to use terrestrial meat terms for plant-based alternatives. But the industry distress has done little to dent veggie appetites, as sales of non-meat delicacies continue to rise. Belgium-France nuclear cooperation The anti-nuclear sentiment whipped up by Green parties in Belgium has finally dissipated and the new government has overturned plans to phase out the country's reactors. But to make a "more sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe", Belgium will work closely with France to extend its nuclear capacity. Across Europe, attitudes towards the zero-emissions energy sources are changing as governments recognise their potential to deliver energy sovereignty and reduce dependence on natural gas imports.
