Macron’s Palestine gamble: Can recognition plan jump-start peace talks?
French President Emmanuel Macron said he may recognize a Palestinian state in June when he will cohost a peace summit with Saudi Arabia, but has not committed to such a move.
PARIS — In preparation for a two-state solution summit to be held in June in New York and jointly organized by France and Saudi Arabia, French President Emmanuel Macron is working to bring together several European countries to recognize the state of Palestine while also pushing for Arab states to recognize Israel.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot traveled to the region on Tuesday for a four-day tour of Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The French Foreign Ministry confirmed to Al-Monitor that Barrot discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Sudani the upcoming conference and a trade: European countries' recognition of a Palestinian state in exchange for Arab states’ recognition of Israel in what Macron has called "mutual recognition."
The ministry declined to say how Sudani reacted.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Macron's adviser on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ofer Bronchtein, said that the French leader is seeking "collective and mutual recognition" to ensure that any progress is not merely symbolic. He said Macron hopes that French recognition of a Palestinian state will give renewed impetus to peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership.
