Photo: Stefan Sejourn
There are no suitable conditions yet for official recognition of a Palestinian state; the decision on this should not be simply symbolic or political, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on Wednesday, May 22, reports Agence France-Presse.
“France does not believe that all the conditions have already been met for (the decision taken by the above countries… the decision to have a real impact on this process,” Sejourne said at the end of negotiations in Paris with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Kats.
Paris has previously said recognition of a Palestinian state must be part of broader efforts to make a two-state solution a reality.
Despite lobbying by several European countries and some Arab states to recognize a Palestinian state, France has said it will make little difference to the situation on the ground without genuine negotiations.
"This is not just a symbolic issue or issue political positioning, but a diplomatic tool to solve the problem of two states living side by side in peace and security,”– Sejourne said.
France is working on a draft UN Security Council resolution that it hopes to present in the summer. The country also wants to continue negotiations on a two-state solution in the Security Council, as well as underscore its clear condemnation of Hamas after the deadly attack on Israel on October 7 that sparked the Gaza war.
BAGNET recalls Ireland, Spain and Norway earlier in the day said they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, hoping to speed up efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Prepared by Sergei Daga