As world leaders gather in New York to address the UN General Assembly, the wave of recognition for a Palestinian State grows. French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced France’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, stating it was in the interest of peace despite US and Israeli opposition.
Macron revealed France would hold off opening an embassy in Palestine until hostages are released and a ceasefire is reached. Belgium announced recognition with unique conditions: legal recognition only after all the hostages are released and Hamas is removed from governance. Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Andorra, and Monaco issued formal recognition statements as well.
The UK, Australia, Canada, and Portugal had announced recognition earlier, while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated recognition was only a question of time and warned of new measures if Israel obstructs a two-state solution any further. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Italy will only recognize Palestine if Hamas disarms and all of the hostages are free.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded saying that “a Palestinian state will not be established and called Western recognition an embarrassing surrender to Palestinian terrorism that will not bind Israel in any way.” Netanyahu is formulating Israel’s official response.
This comes on the heels of his high stakes visit to New York for the 80th UN General Assembly. On Thursday, while en route to New York, Netanyahu was barred from entering Slovenia, with their government citing the International Court of Justice warrant against him and claimed that this move was in regards to international and humanitarian law.
