 "French President Emmanuel Macron. File image/AP")
French President Emmanuel Macron’s advisor and envoy for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, Ofer Bronchtein, has said that the Hamas onslaught of October could have been avoided if a Palestinian state had existed.
“Everyone for 40 years has been talking about the two-state solution. It angers me that people say we encourage terror. Perhaps because there was no Palestinian state, October 7 happened," Bronchtein said.
Macron on Thursday has announced that the country will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, angering many Israeli leaders.
The president said that a formal announcement on the same would be made at a United Nations General Assembly session. “The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” Macron wrote.
While Palestinian leaders and Hamas welcomed the move, it drew strong condemnation from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called it a “reward for terror”.
US reacts
US State Secretary Marco Rubio criticised France’s move by saying, “The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th."
Israel condemns Macron’s announcement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision “rewards terror” and posed an existential threat, providing a “launch pad to annihilate” Israel.
“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” he added.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was equally scathing, claiming that “a Palestinian state will be a Hamas state”, referring to the Palestinian militants who attacked Israel in 2023, triggering the war in Gaza.
With inputs from agencies