PARIS: The foreign minister of France has accused Ireland and Spain of having recognized the Palestinian state as part of political positioning, rather than finding a solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ireland, Norway, and Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine on Tuesday sparking a furious Israeli response.
French President Emmanuel Macron on the same day said he would be prepared to recognize a Palestinian state, but such a move must come at the right moment and should not be based on emotion.
Foreign Minister of France Stephane Sejourne told lawmakers that France was in favor of a two-state solution, under which Israel and Palestine would coexist in peace and harmony.
“By definition, the issue of recognition will of course come into that. But the concern now — which I have clearly shared with my Spanish and Irish counterparts — is what happens the day after recognition: How diplomatically useful is it?” he said.
He added France is not involved in any political positioning and is looking for diplomatic solutions to the crisis in the Middle East.
He said it is unfortunate that some European states put political positioning first in the situation of campaigning for the European elections, which will not solve the issue.
European Parliament is expected to hold elections next week.
The foreign minister said the Spanish recognition has not changed anything in Gaza.
The latest Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel. According to the Gaza health ministry, Israel’s relentless bombardment has killed at least 36,171 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.
The Israeli military says 292 soldiers have been killed in the military campaign on Gaza since the start of the ground offensive on October 27.
