Israeli pressure; UK and France abandon plans to recognize Palestinian state

The UK and France have reportedly decided to abandon plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state at a high-level conference scheduled to take place in New York from June 17 to 20, according to diplomatic sources cited by Middle East Eye.

Initially, France had pushed for European allies, including the UK, to back recognition of Palestinian statehood during the event. French President Emmanuel Macron had called such recognition “a moral duty and political requirement”, hinting it could be part of a broader agreement involving Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel.

However, The Guardian reported that French officials recently informed Israeli counterparts that the conference will no longer serve as a platform for immediate recognition. Instead, the focus will shift to laying out a roadmap towards recognition, dependent on several conditions.

These conditions include a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, reforms within the Palestinian Authority, the reconstruction of Gaza’s economy, and the end of Hamas’ rule in the enclave.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that recognizing Palestine at the conference would have been a “symbolic” act. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, he said France bears a responsibility to move in alignment with its allies.

Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, criticized the shift, warning that these new conditions could indefinitely delay statehood. “Those steps should not be an endless (nonexistent) ‘peace process’ but pressure on Israel to stop obstructing a state,” he wrote on X.

Currently, 147 countries recognize Palestine as a state. While some European nations, like Ireland, Spain, and Norway, made unilateral moves to do so last year, much of Europe has held back, maintaining that recognition should come alongside Israeli agreement and broader regional cooperation.

Last week, Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas told Middle East Eye that France’s push had reportedly gained support from most EU members and Saudi Arabia. But strong opposition from the US and threats from Israel influenced the UK and France’s decision to pull back. In response to the potential recognition, Israel had warned it would expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently announced plans to build 22 new settlements in the area, calling it “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state”. In July 2024, the Israeli parliament overwhelmingly opposed Palestinian statehood, with only Palestinian lawmakers and a single left-wing Jewish MP voting in support.

Pinkas told that although support for Palestinian statehood is virtually nonexistent within Israel or its parliament, the international community should approach Israel with a clear message: “we are your friends, we want you to succeed, this cannot go on... Netanyahu is driving you to unmitigated and irreparable disaster. Wake up, we are here to help."

Israel’s war on Gaza erupted after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people. Since then, Israel has launched a prolonged war on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to UN reports. The humanitarian crisis has worsened, with the UN warning of an “imminent famine” in the region.