By Sama Marwan,
A number of French elected officials, academics, and union leaders declared on Thursday that recognizing the State of Palestine has become an urgent necessity, especially in light of the ongoing suffering in Gaza and the West Bank.
In a collective opinion article published in the French newspaper Le Monde, titled “France’s Recognition of the State of Palestine Is Now Urgent,” the signatories—comprising elected officials, unionists, academics, and NGO leaders—stated that the recognition of Palestine is no longer merely a diplomatic option. It has become a moral and political obligation and a strategic necessity, as war continues in Gaza under a full blockade, civilians are being slaughtered, humanitarian workers are being targeted, and vital infrastructure is being systematically destroyed.
While French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly hinted at possible recognition, the signatories criticized the lack of clarity and implementation behind these statements. They urged that now is the time to act, according to Le Monde.
The article further emphasized that for months, international calls to de-escalate have gone unheard. The remnants of the peace process have collapsed, and the Palestinian people—abandoned by global powers—are facing escalating violence. Against this backdrop, France, the birthplace of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a key player in the EU, must take a clear and courageous step: to officially recognize the State of Palestine.
The authors declared:
“It is time for France to reclaim a leadership role in the path toward justice and clarity.”
They also pointed out that both chambers of the French Parliament voted in favor of this recognition in 2014, but that vote was never implemented. Now, they argue, the excuses for delaying the decision no longer hold in the face of today’s dire situation.
The recognition, they said, aligns with France’s previous international commitments. In 2011, France voted in favor of Palestine’s membership in UNESCO, contributing to its recognition as a full member state. More recently, on April 18, 2024, France voted in favor of Palestine becoming a full UN member during a Security Council vote.
The article stresses that recognizing Palestine does not negate Israel’s right to security, but rather reinforces that this right is inseparable from Palestinians’ rights to freedom and self-determination.
“There can be no lasting peace without justice, and no justice without recognizing the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish a sovereign, viable state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
The signatories concluded by calling on President Macron to make this just, legitimate, and necessary decision, stating:
“France must not miss this opportunity to write a fair and powerful page in its history.”
Notable signatories include:
- Arié Alimi, lawyer and Vice President of the Human Rights League
- Sophie Binet, Secretary General of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT)
- Éric Coquerel, Member of Parliament (La France Insoumise) and Chair of the Finance Committee
- Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the Socialist Party
- Vincent Lemire, historian specializing in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, lecturer at Gustave Eiffel University
- Marylise Léon, Secretary General of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT)
