French President Emmanuel Macron has taken a decisive step by announcing France’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine, directly challenging the long-standing policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The move underscores growing frustration within Europe over the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process and signals a shift towards more assertive diplomatic engagement in the region. Macron emphasized that this recognition is not only a symbolic act but also aimed at reinvigorating international efforts to broker a viable two-state solution.

The announcement has elicited a swift and sharp response from Netanyahu’s administration, which rejected the gesture as counterproductive to peace efforts. Macron, however, defended France’s position by highlighting key reasons:

  • Support for Palestinian…