Macron: France may recognize the state of Palestine next June

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Paris may recognize a Palestinian state next June, adding that some Middle Eastern countries may also recognize Israel.

“We’ve to move toward recognition of a Palestinian state, and we will do it in the next few months… I’m not doing it to please anyone… I’m doing it because it will be appropriate at some point,” he said during an interview on France 5.

He added, “Because I also want to participate in collective efforts that enable Palestine advocates to recognize Israel in turn, something many of them don’t do”.

The French President said that the expected recognition could take place next June, during a conference on Palestine to be held in New York and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia.

The Palestinian state has been recognized by nearly 150 countries, although most major Western powers haven’t taken that step, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan.