French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state (UK too)

[essentialsaltes]

More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe.

France is notable for being (I believe) the first UN Security Council member or G7 member to do so.

 

[trophy33]

US ‘strongly rejects’ French plan to recognise Palestine, Saudis hail ‘historic decision’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted French President Emmanuel Macron decision to recognise a Palestinian state as “reckless” while Saudi Arabia described it as “historic” as world reactions to the plan poured in ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in September.

US ‘strongly rejects’ French plan to recognise Palestine, Saudis hail ‘historic decision’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted French President Emmanuel Macron decision to recognise a Palestinian state as “reckless” while Saudi Arabia described it as “historic” as world reactions to…

www.france24.com

 

[essentialsaltes]

UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel relents and revives two-state solution​

"Today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the U.K. will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution," Starmer said at a news conference.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel relents and revives two-state solution​

"Today, as part of this process towards peace, I can confirm the U.K. will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September, unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution," Starmer said at a news conference.

So basically, bring everything back to how it was before October 7th?

 

[ThatRobGuy]

When that statehood is offered to them, will they take the deal? Or turn it down like they've done in the past?

One of the better two-state deals was offered to them under Bill Clinton (which would've given them all of Gaza, and 96% of the West Bank -- with a land swap to account for the 4% of the WB that Israel would keep, allowing Palestine to be one contiguous territory via corridor systems)

They shot it down.

I've been pretty critical of Israel as of late, but fair is fair... The Palestinian leadership hasn't had a great track record with regards to accepting a good deal when it's offered to them.

 

[essentialsaltes]

So basically, bring everything back to how it was before October 7th?

No, Netanyahu's most recent return to power (2022) was with a far-right coalition that rejects a two-state solution.

Palestinians furious over Netanyahu claims that Israel must 'crush' statehood ambitions​

The veteran Israeli politician has revealed his true goal, critics say: no Palestinian state and a Palestinian Authority that serves only as Israel’s “subcontractor”​

 

[Oompa Loompa]

When that statehood is offered to them, will they take the deal? Or turn it down like they've done in the past?

One of the better two-state deals was offered to them under Bill Clinton (which would've given them all of Gaza, and 96% of the West Bank -- with a land swap to account for the 4% of the WB that Israel would keep, allowing Palestine to be one contiguous territory via corridor systems)

They shot it down.

I've been pretty critical of Israel as of late, but fair is fair... The Palestinian leadership hasn't had a great track record with regards to accepting a good deal when it's offered to them.

Good point. Palestinian leadership doesn't want a two-state solution. They want to eradicate Israel. Pretty hard to find a middle ground.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Good point. Palestinian leadership doesn't want a two-state solution. They want to eradicate Israel. Pretty hard to find a middle ground.

While I certainly don't consider Netanyahu to be a good faith actor in any of this (which his actions and lack of trustworthiness will be used as an excuse to turn down the deal without losing face)

Ehud Barak was arguably the most Palestinian-friendly Israeli PM their country ever had. (he was popular enough with them that Arab-Israeli voters actually helped him beat Netanyahu in the 1999 elections they held)

I had to go back and look at the details of the deal Ehud Barak was putting on the table to refresh my memory, I misspoke before by a little bit, but I wasn't far off.

- Israel would annex parts of the West Bank (roughly 9%) but give land swaps to the Palestinians to make up for it in order to build a corridor between the two territories
- Palestine would get all of Gaza
- Shared sovereignty and special arrangements for the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.
- 5 year sunset on Israeli military presence
- Shared sovereignty for Jerusalem (the one and only time that's ever been offered)
- Limited "right of return" (with a compensation fund to pay Palestinians who wouldn't be able to pursuant to the land swaps)
- Settlement freeze


Arafat shot it down for reasons of "full right of return" and "No Jewish presence in Arab lands" and "river to the sea" reasoning.

So yeah, you can't exactly negotiate or find a middle ground on that. Israel was meeting them 75% of the way to their position in the Camp David Summit negotiations in 2000, and they still turned it down.