Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated to French President Emmanuel Macron his strict opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Such a step would “be a huge reward for terrorism,” Netanyahu said during a telephone conversation with Macron on Tuesday, according to his office.
There has been no condemnation from the Palestinian side – including from the Palestinian Authority – of the Hamas massacre in the Israeli border area on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu said in justification.
“Children are being educated to seek the destruction of Israel and financial rewards are being given to those who murder Jews,” Netanyahu said, adding that a Palestinian state “just minutes away from Israeli cities would become an Iranian terrorist base.”
In a recent interview with the France 5 television channel, Macron suggested that France could recognize a Palestinian state in June.
He made it clear that he was also seeking the recognition of Israel by pro-Palestinian states. He expressed the goal that this “mutual recognition” could take place at a conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia in June.
Almost 150 UN member states have recognized Palestine as a state. However, important Western countries are not amongst them, including the UN veto powers US, France and Britain.
The term “two-state solution” refers to an independent Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel. The Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, against which Israel is fighting in the Gaza Strip, also rejects such a solution.
In a statement issued after the phone call with Netanyahu, Macron did not specifically address the possibility of recognition. He emphasized, however, that a ceasefire was the only way to ensure the liberation of further hostages, and all checkpoints for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip must be opened.
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