Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France's Emmanuel Macron in a social media post on X on Thursday (July 24) after the French President announced that the European nation will recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly. "We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel", Netanyahu said in a post on X.
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz came out against Macron calling the decision a "disgrace" and a "boost to the Hamas murderers". Israeli Knesset Chairman, Amir Ohana called the announcement "shameful" and a "betrayal".
Macron, who announced the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France's intention to become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state.
France, home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities, will become the first major Western country to recognize a Palestinian state, potentially giving greater momentum to a movement so far dominated by smaller nations that are generally more critical of Israel.
