French opposition parties have called on President Emmanuel Macron’s government to take immediate steps to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza
ISTANBUL — French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed call for a peaceful two-state solution as he is expected to announce their recognition of the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
“What France wants is two states living in peace side by side: a state of Israel that recognizes a state of Palestine, a state of Palestine that recognizes a state of Israel,” Macron said in a video he released Sunday on US social media company X.
He pointed to the “pain,” “suffering,” and “distress” of all the people in Gaza and those who live “under the bombings without access to humanitarian aid.”
“Deep down, all lives are equal. And behind all this, we have stolen lives, lives taken away, people who are suffering. And what we want, what France wants, is peace,” Macron said.
He reaffirmed that their recognition of a state of Palestine is the “beginning of a path,” reminding the presence of conditions and requirements for the involved parties.
On Sunday, in an interview with CBS News, Macron said the release of Israeli hostages was a “clear condition” before they open an embassy in Palestine.
He also voiced his disagreement with the recent conclusion by UN investigators that Israel is committing genocdie in Gaza.
“We don’t qualify as a genocide what’s happening because it is not a political statement. This is for the judges or the, and or the historians to qualify a genocide by a series of evidence and a clear jurisprudence and clear elements,” Macron explained.
Opposition urges Macron to act
Meanwhile, French opposition parties have called on President Emmanuel Macron’s government to take immediate steps to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza, following France’s recognition of the state of Palestine.
Mathilde Panot, deputy chair of the France Unbowed (LFI) party, wrote on US social media company X: “Recognizing the State of Palestine is good, stopping genocide and colonialism is better.”
She urged Paris to impose an immediate arms embargo on Israel, adopt diplomatic, economic and cultural sanctions, and suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Manuel Bompard, national coordinator of LFI, said: “Concrete steps are now necessary to end genocide and colonialism.”
Sabrina Sebaihi, a lawmaker from the Greens (EELV), said France must now “act forcefully to end genocide in Gaza, colonialism in the West Bank, and to secure the release of prisoners.”
French Communist Party (PCF) Secretary-General Fabien Roussel welcomed the recognition as “a victory, albeit delayed,” but stressed that France must immediately work for a ceasefire in Gaza and the end of “massacres, oppression and occupation.”
Roussel also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “must be stopped,” urging continued efforts toward a two-state solution.
President Macron announced the recognition on Monday during a high-level international conference on the Palestinian issue, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN.
On Sunday, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal announced the recognition of Palestine, bringing the total number of UN member states that have taken this step to 153 out of 193.
Eleven other countries — including Malta, Luxembourg, France, and Belgium — declared plans to extend the recognition during the UN General Assembly’s 80th session this month in New York, where world leaders will convene for the General Debate. — Anadolu Agency
