Spain will recognize a Palestinian state on May 21 putting France in awkward position

Spain and other European countries that will recognize Palestine as a state from May 21 will be placed in a difficult position in the middle of the European Union and before the Arab peoples, and will become more involved in the American-British project in the Middle East than in the future.

Spain’s socialist government, led by Pedro Sanchez, has confirmed its intention to recognize a Palestinian state on the 21st of this month, in less than ten days.

Other countries such as Ireland and Slovenia are expected to take the same decision, bringing the percentage of European Union countries that recognize the Palestinian state to 12, most notably Poland and Sweden.

European Defense High Representative Josep Borrell said over the weekend that Spanish Foreign Minister Manuel Álvares had personally informed him of the Madrid government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state on the 21st of this month, and if there was a delay it would be in July.

The decision by Spain, Ireland and other countries would put France in an awkward position vis-à-vis Arab and African governments and peoples.

While France supports UN recognition of a Palestinian state, it has so far refrained from formal recognition, noting that the French parliament voted on December 3, 2014 on a resolution calling on the French presidency to recognize the Palestinian state.

The president at the time was Socialist François Hollande, the predecessor of current President Emmanuel Macron.

Without a doubt, the French presidency will feel the pressure, as it sees European countries that do not claim to lead dialogue with the Arab world, such as Ireland and Slovenia, announcing the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Spain may become a larger interlocutor with the Arab world in the Middle East and Mediterranean files than Paris, especially since Madrid Prime Minister Sanchez has made multiple visits to countries such as Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf since the outbreak of the October 7 war, and was clear in his positions that condemned the Israeli aggression.

French diplomatic staff are pressing the presidency in Paris not to delay in recognizing the Palestinian state so as not to lose its position, which was affected by France’s lack of a role in the middle of the European Union to demand a ceasefire truce.

When President Emmanuel Macron called for an international coalition to fight Hamas, French diplomats and even intelligence officials considered that the president had become subservient to British and US foreign policy and undermined France’s independence.

Observers note that Macron doesn’t want to stray too far from the positions of Britain and the United States on Middle East issues, including Palestine.

The “proud France” party stresses breaking with the positions of London and Washington and making the decision to recognize the Palestinian state before it’s too late.