France’s Palestine recognition a ‘very concrete action’
French President Emmanuel Macron scored a major diplomatic coup by declaring his intention to recognise a Palestinian state, but the move risks being followed by bitter retaliation from Israel while not providing concrete benefits to the Palestinians, analysts say.
Macron sent a shockwave through the international community with his pledge a few months ago. His announcement in a speech in New York at a conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday is now to be matched by recognition by nine other states, including Australia, Belgium, Canada and the UK.
The recognition marks the growing international frustration with Israel over its assault and aid blockades on the Gaza Strip. The implications are historic.
“This recognition is not the end of our diplomatic efforts. It is not a symbolic recognition. It is part of a broader and very concrete action,” said French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux, pointing to the French-Saudi roadmap that is to accompany the recognition.
Western recognition of Palestine unlikely to alter Netanyahu’s stance
Recognition by some Western countries of a Palestinian state won’t have a significant impact on the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or its conduct, a political analyst says.
“Will it change his [Netanyahu’s] calculus? Not at the moment. But I think he is beginning to feel the pressure, and I think Israel generally is beginning to feel the pressure,” Ori Goldberg told Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv.
Israel faces a paradox, Goldberg added. “It keeps going as though it has nothing to contain it or limit its efforts to carry out the genocide of the Palestinian people … On the other hand, circumstances are changing and they’re changing quite rapidly, not necessarily in terms of political results in the field, but in the sense that the Palestinian question is becoming a liability to existing leaders around the world, not just in Europe but in the US also.”
Imposing sanctions and boycotting Israeli activities could result in having an impact as these actions would “breach the Israeli public and allow the Israeli public to view Netanyahu as a dysfunctional prime minister, not as a valiant prime minister who, despite being disliked and despite his many personal issues, is doing all he can to fight an impossible battle that’s closer to the way most Israelis view Netanyahu right now,” he said.
