French President Emmanuel Macron revealed on Wednesday that France is poised to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming months, with a potential formalization set for a United Nations conference in New York this June.

Speaking on France 5 television, Macron outlined plans to co-chair the event alongside Saudi Arabia, aiming to advance mutual recognition of Palestinian statehood by multiple nations.

“We must move toward recognition, and we will do so in the coming months,” Macron declared. He highlighted the June conference as a key opportunity, stating, “Our aim is to chair this conference with Saudi Arabia in June, where we could finalize this movement of mutual recognition of a Palestinian state by several parties.”

The announcement aligns France with a growing international trend. In May 2022, Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized Palestinian statehood in a coordinated effort. Spain’s government spokeswoman, Pilar Alegria, described the move as a vital step toward fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez clarified that Spain’s recognition encompasses the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank under the Palestinian National Authority, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and stressed that pre-1967 borders would remain unchanged without mutual consent.

Armenia followed suit a month later, boosting the number of UN member states recognizing Palestine to 147 out of 193. Sweden paved the way as the first EU nation to take this step in 2014, with others recognizing Palestine prior to EU membership.

The Hamas Movement praised the 2022 recognitions by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, calling on more countries to acknowledge the Palestinian people’s “legitimate rights” and support their fight for liberation and independence.

Macron’s pledge marks a notable shift in France’s stance and could reshape diplomatic efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As June approaches, the international community awaits the outcome of this high-stakes conference, which may signal a broader push for peace in the region. (ILKHA)