France Plans to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September, Macron Says
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France will recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Macron announced the decision in a post on X on Thursday evening, expressing hope that the move would contribute to peace in the region.
In a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron confirmed France's intention to be the first major Western nation to formally recognize Palestinian statehood.
"Remaining committed to a fair and enduring resolution in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine," Macron said.
"This official declaration will be made at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September."
The move is expected to draw criticism from Israel and the United States. Previously, in a diplomatic note issued in June, the US stated its opposition to unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
Read next
Marché des Enfants Rouges, Known as Paris' 'Coolest Market,' Ravaged by Fire
A devastating fire has swept through Paris's oldest surviving covered food market, a beloved street food destination in the Marais district. This historical venue, which attracted both locals and tourists daily, dates back to the 17th century.
Ariel Weil, the mayor of central Paris, described the Marché des
German Minister Resigns Following Stepdaughter's Death and Political Criticism
Germany's Labour Minister Bärbel Bas, a co-leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), resigned from her positions, citing the loss of her stepdaughter and subsequent political attacks as her reasons. Her resignation poses a significant challenge to the already fragile coalition government.
Bas, in a Facebook statement, mentioned
Preserving 300-Year-Old Church-Bell Tradition: Lebanon's Sole Family Artisan
The story of Lebanon's sole remaining church-bell maker traces its origins to an unexpected encounter. In the 18th century, Youssef Gabriel, a local metalworker, was involved in covertly crafting and supplying rifles to Arab revolutionaries fighting against the Ottoman rule over Lebanon. One day, a Russian engineer