Palestinians hold mixed views as France prepares to recognize state
Palestinians expressed mixed opinions Friday after French President Emmanuel Macron said he'd recognize a Palestinian state, with enthusiasm mitigated by the world's failure to stem suffering in Gaza.
"We hope it will be implemented, and we hope that most or all countries around the world will follow France's lead in recognizing the Palestinian people's right to an independent state," said Nabil Abdel Razek, a resident of Ramallah, home to the Palestinian Authority.
Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the PA was intended to be a building bloc towards the establishment of a state.
At a newsagent in the central square of the West Bank city, several front page headlines mentioned President Emmanuel Macron's late Thursday evening announcement.
"All of these decisions not only affirm the rights of the Palestinian people, but also contribute to changing the violent reality in the region and lead to greater stability," said Ahmed Ghoneim, a political militant, as he headed off to a demonstration in solidarity with Gaza.
Ghoneim said he also hopes France's move will inspire other European countries, given that at least 142 of the 193 U.N. member states recognize a Palestinian state, according to an AFP tally.
But analysts are more cautious.
"The question for Palestinians is what will France do NOW about Israel starving them in Gaza," Nour Odeh, a political commentator, wrote on X.
Others also agreed the main issue for Palestinians is Gaza.
"What France should have recognized is the genocide and taken measures to end it and end the occupation," said Ines Abdel Razek, co-director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD).
In an interview with AFP, she said France should cut relations with Israel and impose a trade embargo.
"An example of a brave gesture is the Colombian president asking his army to block boats transporting energy and arms to Israel, she said.
While saying France's promise is just "symbolic", Samer Sinijlawi, another political militant, noted Macron's call for elections in the Palestinian territories and said this "brings us hope".
27 July 2025, 12:07
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With his legal background he should know that under the International Law, Article 1 of the Montevideo Conference, 1933 defines the state as a person and lays down following essentials that an entity should possess in order to acquire recognition as a state:
Population; Territory; Government; Sovereignty;
Control should tend towards permanency.
27 July 2025, 12:07
00
With his legal background he should know that under the International Law, Article 1 of the Montevideo Conference, 1933 defines the state as a person and lays down following essentials that an entity should possess in order to acquire recognition as a state:
Population; Territory; Government; Sovereignty;
Control should tend towards permanency.
27 July 2025, 12:07
00
If these conditions are fulfilled, then the State can be recognized.
1. Population - Who can state what the permanent population of Palestine is.
2. Territory - Who can state exactly what are the borders of this Palestine State
3. Government - Presumably this refers to President Abbas being in the 20+ year of his 4 year term of office.
4. Sovereignty - Of what area is Palestine presently under its soveignty.
5. Control - After the PLO was expelled from Gaza in 2007 does anyone in their right mind think that Hamas will agree to be ruled from Ramallah (the chances of getting East Jerusalem as their capital or even under their control is between nil and zero).
As Palestine does not fulfil a single one of these essential conditions how can he consider recognising it.
