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International Desk, June 7, 2025 : France and the United Kingdom have withdrawn their plans to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state at an upcoming conference scheduled for mid-June in New York, according to a report by Middle East Eye on Saturday, June 7. The summit, co-led by Saudi Arabia and France, was initially seen as a platform to push for Palestinian statehood.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously described recognizing Palestine as a "moral duty and political necessity." France had been lobbying European nations to join the initiative, hoping that European recognition of Palestine would prompt Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel. However, The Guardian reports that French officials have informed Israel that they will not recognize Palestine at the summit. Instead, France will focus on laying the groundwork for future recognition, including proposals for the release of Israeli hostages, restructuring the Palestinian government, and establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
While 147 countries worldwide have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, most European nations remain hesitant, arguing that such a decision requires Israel's approval and reciprocal concessions from Arab states.
AI/MR
