JERUSALEM — Ahead of Paris' expected recognition of Palestine in September, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who is of French descent, accuses France of emboldening Hamas. 

The recent declarations and actions of French President Emmanuel Macron "are not promoting peace and coexistence in any way," Haskel told Al-Monitor in a recent interview in Jerusalem. By announcing his intention to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly summit, she said the French leader harmed "the very delicate negotiations" between Israel and Hamas, saying, "Those negotiations failed on the very day Macron made his announcement, and the fact is that Hamas celebrated his initiative."

Haskel serves as a Knesset member and deputy foreign minister on behalf of the New Hope party, which merged with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party on Aug. 13. Born in Canada, she grew up in Israel and studied veterinary medicine in Australia. Upon her return to Israel in 2013, she entered politics and became a parliamentarian for the Likud in 2015 before joining New Hope, started by a Likud defector, in 2020. As a Knesset member, Haskel campaigned for the United States to withdraw its support from the United National Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. She has also been active on LGBT rights, the rights of animals and the legalization of cannabis. 

The following interview with Haskel was edited for length and clarity.