French President Emmanuel Macron voices concern on Israeli television, stating that the ongoing conflict in Gaza is negatively impacting Israel's reputation.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will formally recognize the Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, 22nd September. This move is supported by several countries, including Canada, Australia, and Belgium.
The decision comes after the UN General Assembly adopted the "New York Declaration" on 12th September, which provides new momentum for the two-state solution and explicitly excludes Hamas from the political equation. The declaration was passed with an overwhelming majority.
Macron has been a vocal advocate for the two-state solution, emphasizing its importance in maintaining peace in the region. He has criticized the current Israeli strategy in Gaza, stating it is backfiring and causing a large number of civilian victims and casualties, damaging Israel's image and credibility.
However, Macron has also made it clear that he wants to continue working with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has raised the spectre of economic sanctions should Israel press ahead with an expanded Gaza offensive, but insists that his goal is to isolate Hamas, not punish Israel.
Netanyahu, in response, accused Macron of "feeding the flames of anti-Semitism" in France. However, France has rejected this claim, stating that recognizing Palestine is the best way to isolate Hamas.
Macron's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza is part of a shifting international stance on the issue. Palestinian officials have hailed the UN vote as "an important step towards ending the occupation."
The UN General Assembly meeting is scheduled for next week in New York. Macron has urged immediate action to prevent the conflict from deepening and the hope of peace from vanishing. He has also emphasized the importance of diplomacy, particularly on the stalled two-state solution.
Israeli authorities have refused Macron's request to travel to Israel ahead of the UN meetings in New York. Despite this, Macron has maintained that he is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in the region. He has argued that while Hamas must be dismantled, purely military solutions would not succeed in breaking the cycle of violence.
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