Macron Recognizes a Palestinian State. But to What End?
That is a considerable price to pay for a decision he portrayed as essential to preserve some chance of a two-state peace, but Mr. Macron detests inertia and often acts in isolation. He has lost patience with President Trump's America and has indicated that he believes he has a moral obligation to confront Israel's devastation of Gaza.
Certainly, he has placed himself in a delicate position, taking a step that a succession of French presidents had shunned, at a moment when Hamas has not disarmed in Gaza and Palestinian statehood has never seemed more remote.
Mr. Macron's decision reflects the swelling global horror at the starvation and killing of civilians in Gaza. Australia, Britain and Canada all called on Israel in recent days to allow more aid into the enclave, which may now happen. But French recognition of Palestinian statehood seems unlikely to affect the quest for a cease-fire, let alone inspire serious diplomacy focused on the future of Gaza, as long as the United States has other ideas.
'What he says doesn't matter,' Mr. Trump said of Mr. Macron's announcement, speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday. 'That statement doesn't carry any weight.'
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