The UK and France will abandon their previous plans to recognize the Palestinian state at future meetings, according to diplomats.
France was lobbying the UK and other European allies to recognize the Palestinian state at its meeting in New York, as it will be held from June 17th to 20th.
President Emmanuel Macron has described the move as “moral obligations and political requirements,” suggesting that Saudi Arabia could be in return for recognizing Israel at conferences.
However, the Guardian reports that French officials explained to their Israeli counterparts this week that the meeting was not a moment of recognition.
Instead, we will focus on summarizing the steps towards recognition, subject to a series of measures and concessions from the Palestinians.
These include the permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli prisoners, reforming Palestinian authorities, economic reconstruction and the end of Gaza’s Hamas rule.
French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barott admitted at the meeting on Friday that the Palestinian state was a “symbolic” decision and said that as a permanent resident of the UN Security Council he has a “special responsibility” to not do so without the support of his allies.
Kenneth Ross, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, expressed concern that the Palestinian state’s perception could be delayed indefinitely by the announced measures.
“These steps should not be an infinite (non-existent) “peace process,” but we should put pressure on Israel to stop thwarting the nation,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Although 147 countries recognize the Palestinian state, many of Europe are reluctant, and have long said that such a move can only come through Israel’s recognition and mutual movements from Arab countries.
Ireland, Spain and Norway recognized the Palestinian state last year, and there has been an increasing consensus that perception should come unilaterally as a way to put pressure on Israel to change the tack.
Last week, Israeli diplomat Aron Piccas said with a Middle Eastern eye that Palestine is “serious and has received support from most of the European Union and Saudi Arabia.”
But both the UK and France face US pressure on the plan, but Israel says it will expand its occupied West Bank settlement accordingly.
Israeli War Minister Israel Katz said the plan to build a further 22 villages in the occupied territory was a “strategic move to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Last July, Israeli Parliament voted overwhelmingly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, supported by only Palestinian lawmakers and left-wing Jewish lawmakers.
Piccus told Me that there was no meaningful domestic support in Israel or the Parliament of the Palestinian state, but the international community’s pitch to Israel to end the war was “We are your friends, we hope you will succeed, this you don’t keep going… Netanyahu is not driving you, promotes unlimited disasters.