The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed strong opposition to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state. Rubio labeled Macron’s decision as “reckless,” asserting it primarily benefits Hamas propaganda and undermines peace efforts in the Middle East.
This exchange comes as President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed it would not participate in an upcoming United Nations conference aimed at developing a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a post on social media platform X, Rubio criticized Macron’s intentions. “Such a move only serves to bolster Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,” he stated.
In earlier remarks, Macron had declared his intention to formalize France’s recognition of a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly scheduled for September. On X, he stated, “In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.”
Currently, at least 142 of the 193 UN member nations recognize or are initiating the process to recognize a Palestinian state. However, several significant Western nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, have refrained from doing so.
Other European Union countries, such as Norway, Ireland, and Spain, indicated their moves toward recognizing a Palestinian state in May. Macron’s decision shifts the landscape substantially, as France is one of Israel’s closest allies and a member of the G7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly condemned Macron’s decision, asserting that it “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.” He added, “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it.”
Netanyahu further claimed, “Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.” Similarly, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz denounced Macron’s move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” and emphasized that Israel would not permit the establishment of a Palestinian entity that threatens its security.
While the U.S. has historically supported the two-state solution as a means to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Donald Trump has raised doubts about its feasibility. Upon his return to the White House in January, Trump suggested an aggressive approach, indicating that the U.S. could potentially “take over” Gaza and displace its Palestinian population to transform the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
This controversial proposition has faced backlash from various rights groups, Arab nations, and the United Nations, being characterized as an act of “ethnic cleansing.” A recent statement from U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, reinforced skepticism about the viability of an independent Palestinian state remaining a goal of U.S. foreign policy.
In light of Huckabee’s statements, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce clarified that Huckabee “speaks for himself,” emphasizing that policy decisions are ultimately at the discretion of Trump and the White House.
On Thursday, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that Washington would not attend the upcoming UN conference focused on the two-state solution. This event, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia and set for July 28-30, aims to establish a pathway toward peace in the longstanding conflict.
Pigott informed reporters that there would be “nothing further” to add regarding the issue, reaffirming that Washington “will not be in attendance.”
Concurrent with ongoing diplomatic tensions, there is growing pressure on Israel to terminate its military operations in Gaza, which escalated following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that resulted in over 1,139 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of more than 200 individuals.
The subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, which has lasted 21 months, has led to nearly 60,000 Palestinian fatalities and left an additional 144,000 wounded.
Despite protracted negotiations for a ceasefire facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, no agreements have been reached thus far.
In a significant collective response, 28 nations—including the UK, Japan, and various European countries—issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The statement condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, urging that “the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,” must cease.
image source from：aljazeera
