UK and France abandon plans to recognise Palestinian state at conference

The UK and France will abandon previous plans to recognise a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference, according to diplomats.

France had been lobbying the UK and other European allies to recognise a Palestinian state at the conference in New York, due to be held between 17 and 20 June.

President Emmanuel Macron had described the move as “a moral duty and political requirement”, suggesting it could come in return for Saudi Arabia recognising Israel at the conference.

However, The Guardian has reported that French officials briefed their Israeli counterparts this week that the conference would not be the moment for recognition.

Instead, it will now focus on outlining steps towards recognition, contingent on a series of measures and concessions from the Palestinians.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch

Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters

These will include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives, reform of the Palestinian Authority, economic reconstruction and the end of Hamas rule in Gaza.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday that recognising a Palestinian state at the conference would have been a "symbolic" decision and said they had a "particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the UN Security Council not to do so without the support of allies.

Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, expressed concerns that the recognition of a Palestinian state could end up being indefinitely delayed by the announced steps.

"Those steps should not be an endless (nonexistent) 'peace process' but pressure on Israel to stop obstructing a state," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Although 147 countries recognise the state of Palestine, much of Europe has been reluctant and long stated that such a move could only come with Israel's approval and reciprocal moves from Arab states.

Ireland, Spain and Norway recognised a Palestinian state last year, and there has been an increasing consensus that recognition should come unilaterally as a means of pressuring Israel to change tack.

Last week, Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas told Middle East Eye that France's push to recognise Palestine was "serious and has the backing of most of the European Union and Saudi Arabia”.

However, both the UK and France have faced pressure from the US over the plans, while Israel has said it would expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank in response.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said plans to build a further 22 settlements in the occupied territory were "a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state".

In July last year, the Israeli parliament voted overwhelmingly to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, with only Palestinian lawmakers and a single left-wing Jewish MP voting in support.

Pinkas told MEE that while there was no meaningful domestic support in Israel or the parliament for Palestinian statehood, the international community’s pitch to Israel over ending the war should be that “we are your friends, we want you to succeed, this cannot go on... Netanyahu is driving you to unmitigated and irreparable disaster. Wake up, we are here to help".

Israel’s war on Gaza started after the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed around 1,200 people. Israel responded by pummelling the Gaza Strip and invading it.

More than 54,000 people, mainly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli attacks, and the population is facing "imminent famine", the United Nations says. 

middleeasteye.net