French President Emmanuel Macron opened the United Nations General Assembly week with a bold announcement. He declared France will formally recognize a Palestinian state, aiming to shift the diplomatic focus on Gaza. Macron seized the moment to elevate France’s role on the world stage amid the global gathering in New York.
Moreover, Macron presented a plan for a multinational force to replace Israel’s Defense Forces after the Gaza conflict. This proposal aims to stabilize the region “the day after” the war, reported The Times of Israel. For Macron, the UN Assembly serves as a platform to assert France as an alternative global power.
Jean-Loup Samaan, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore, explained Macron’s intentions. “He wants France’s role on the world stage to counterbalance U.S.-China tensions,” Samaan said. Additionally, Macron believes supporting Palestine will boost France’s credibility in the Arab world and the Global South.
In an interview on Israel’s Channel 12, Macron emphasized recognizing Palestinians’ right to a state. He warned, “Without political solutions, people turn to aggressive security responses.” Macron condemned Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City as “absolutely unacceptable” and a “huge mistake.”
His remarks sparked anger in Israel and the U.S., who say recognition rewards Hamas extremists. Still, Macron insists that recognition revives the stalled two-state peace solution. More than 145 countries already recognize Palestine, and European allies might soon follow France’s lead.
However, critics question Macron’s effectiveness, pointing to UNIFIL peacekeepers’ long record in Lebanon. Richard Goldberg from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies criticized Macron’s past efforts. “He hasn’t delivered real security improvements; those came through U.S. and Israeli pressure,” Goldberg stated.
Observers also note Macron’s domestic political challenges and France’s sizable Muslim population influence his moves. Recently, Trump met with Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to discuss Gaza’s future, increasing competition for leadership. Some see Macron’s actions as a power play to outshine Trump as a global statesman.
Anne Bayefsky of the Touro Institute called Macron’s move “a blatant power-grab” and doubted Palestinian leader Abbas’ promises. Samaan concluded that Macron’s Palestine initiative aligns with his legacy goals before leaving office in 2027. Still, without U.S. backing, Israeli agreement, or French parliamentary support, Macron’s Gaza force plan might stall. Despite uncertainties, Macron’s announcement undeniably underscores France’s role on the world stage as a diplomatic player.
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