The French President toughens rhetoric against Israel… Demanding recognition of a Palestinian State

The French President Emmanuel Macron has escalated his criticism of Israel, calling for a “tougher stance” if the country does not ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

His remarks, made during a press conference in Singapore, have drawn sharp rebukes from Tel Aviv, which accused him of waging a “Crusader war against the Jewish state”.

Macron emphasized that Europeans must “tighten their collective stance” against Israel unless there is a significant improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been devastated by a 20-month-long war.

He warned that the EU-Israel partnership agreement could be reviewed, and sanctions imposed if Israel fails to act.

“We must toughen our stance because its necessary today,” Macron said, though he expressed hope that the Israeli government might still change its position.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, despite partial resumptions of aid deliveries after a two-and-a-half-month blockade imposed by Israel.

The blockade aims to control the Strip, eliminate Hamas, and secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.

Macron cautioned that if the West abandons Gaza and allows Israel to act unchecked, it could “lose credibility with the rest of the world”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected Macron’s claims, stating, “There is no humanitarian blockade… This is a blatant lie,” and noted that hundreds of aid trucks had been allowed into Gaza since the blockade was partially lifted.

The Israel’s Foreign Ministry further accused Macron of “waging a crusade against the Jewish state,” particularly criticizing his support for recognizing a Palestinian state. “Instead of pressuring terrorist jihadists, Macron wants to reward them by granting them a Palestinian state”.

Macron, however, framed the recognition of a Palestinian state as both a moral duty and a political demand.

While he didn’t confirm whether France would formally recognize Palestine during an upcoming UN conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on June 18, he outlined conditions for such recognition.

These include the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, its exclusion from governance, reforms within the Palestinian Authority, and the establishment of regional security mechanisms.

In a coordinated move, France, Canada, and Britain announced their determination to recognize a Palestinian state to advance the two-state solution, pledging to collaborate with other nations to achieve this goal.

Israel, however, remains firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967.

Defiantly, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the Sanur settlement outpost in the West Bank, a day after the government unveiled plans to expand Jewish settlements there.

Katz sent a clear message to Macron: “They will recognize a Palestinian state on paper, and we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground… This paper will be thrown into the dustbin of history, and the State of Israel will prosper”.

The escalating tensions highlight the deepening divide between international efforts to broker a two-state solution and Israel’s unwavering commitment to its territorial and security objectives.