World leaders recognize Palestinian statehood at New York summit

“The time has come. That is why, true to my country's historic commitment in the Near East to peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, I declare that France recognizes the State of Palestine today,” French President Emmanuel Macron declared triumphantly as world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Monday to recognize Palestinian statehood. 

The high-level gathering follows the formal recognition of Palestine as a state on Sunday by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal. The gesture, which was also taken up by Malta, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg and others on Monday, was framed as part of working toward the two-state solution. 

The diplomatic move was reportedly met with “lengthy applause.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN via video link, after France facilitated his attendance online following the United States’ refusal of his visa.. In his speech, he denounced Hamas as having “no role” in governing Gaza in the future, calling for its disarmament, along with “other factions.”

“What we want is one unified state without weapons, a state with one law and one legitimate security force,” Abbas said, calling for a permanent ceasefire and an immediate reconstruction of Gaza and the occupied West Bank. 

Abbas, who had previously vowed in letters addressed to France of a Palestinian governance overhaul, said an interim constitution will be drafted to ensure a transfer of power from the Palestinian Authority to a new Palestinian state, with elections held under international observance.

Reacting to France’s recognition before it took place, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River . Israeli ministers, in the meantime, called for annexation of the occupied West Bank in retaliation, and to formally block a Palestinian state.

The UK and Saudi Arabia both warned Israel against annexing parts of the West Bank, with Saudi Arabia saying that annexing any part of the West Bank will lead to “major repercussions in all fields.” Weeks ago, the United Arab Emirates also warned that Israel's annexation represented a "red line" that would undermine agreements and end regional integration efforts.

In Cairo, French Ambassador Éric Chevallier framed the recognition as "symbolic, political and historical” and a “major step in the country’s path with previous statements by previous presidents, [Charles] de Gaulle, [François] Mitterrand and [Jacques] Chirac in that regard.” 

Speaking at a press conference promoting the French diplomatic move on Monday, Chevallier said the initiative was followed by other countries, and that Macron wants to engage in a collective dynamic. 

He also noted that it is important to continue the dialogue with the US in order to make Washington listen to “what we, European and Arab leaders, think could be the road.”

Chevallier said dialogue with the US must also address the “great dangers” of the Palestinians’ forced displacement and to recognize that such a move will constitute a big catastrophe not only for the strategic interest of countries in the region but also for US’s strategic interests. 

The French ambassador added that Macron’s announcement on April 9 of France’s intention to recognize Palestine came while he was in the airplane after his visit to Egypt. The announcement also came after his Arish visit the day prior, where he was accompanied by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which constituted one of the important elements that led to his decision. During Macron’s visit, the ambassador said that he met with injured Palestinian women and children, activists in the field of humanitarian work, including from the Egyptian Red Crescent, and that he also saw the blocked convoys of humanitarian aid. 

“This does not change the situation on the ground,” Chevallier said, adding that France will continue to push for a ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the continued unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. 

“We know that it is not enough.This is not what will change the life of Palestinians,” Chevalier concluded. 

In an interview last month with Mada Masr, Canadian ambassador in Cairo, Ulric Shannon, explained that the declaration of a Palestinian state by Canada fits within a track record of his country’s position, which has been supportive of different peace processes, including Madrid and Oslo, and the two-state solution, whereby technical assistance has been granted to Palestinian politicians to negotiate with Israel. “These are the building blocks toward statehood,” he said. “Like other world leaders recognizing Palestine, the premise of the Canadian statehood declaration is the marginalization of Hamas, empowering the moderates and reforming the Palestinian Authority.”