France’s Macron calls for British support on Palestinian statehood during UK visit

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged British backing for the recognition of a Palestinian state during his three-day state visit to the UK.

In a rare address to both houses of the British parliament on July 8, where he praised the renewed warmth in Franco-British relations, Macron called on the UK to partner with France in recognising a Palestinian state, describing it as “the only path to peace," Caliber.Az reports citing The Times of Israel. 

Macron described the war in Gaza as a “war without end and without a strategic objective,” calling the conflict "a huge threat to the region and our collective security."

“With Gaza in ruin and West Bank being on a daily basis attacked, the perspective of a Palestinian state has never been put at risk as it is,” Macron said. “And this is why this solution of the two states and the recognition of the State of Palestine is… the only way to build peace and stability for all in the whole region.”

According to an article by Bloomberg, the United Kingdom and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, are holding talks on this issue, but London has not yet set a specific timeline. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that discussions are ongoing with French and Saudi counterparts, but emphasized the need to improve the situation on the ground.

Macron’s visit is the first state trip to the UK by a European Union head of state since the completion of Brexit.

In recent weeks, Macron has taken a strong stance on recognising Palestine, urging other nations to consider the move. France hosted a Gaza-focused international summit at the UN in June with backing from Saudi Arabia, fuelling speculation that Paris would announce its recognition of Palestine. Yet, one week before the conference, those hopes faded when, as reported by France24, the French foreign minister said France remained "determined" to pursue recognition, but insisted the step must go beyond a "symbolic" gesture.

By Nazrin Sadigova