Palestinian Welcome and Israeli and American Anger at Macron's Decision

SadaNews - Palestinian entities welcomed the decision of French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state, while Israeli and American entities expressed their outrage towards it.

The Deputy President of the State of Palestine, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein Sheikh, stated that President Macron's announcement of his decision to recognize the State of Palestine represents France's commitment to international law and its support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.

Sheikh expressed his gratitude and appreciation to President Emmanuel Macron for his message addressed to President Mahmoud Abbas, in which he reaffirmed France's consistent stance and his country's intention to recognize the State of Palestine next September.

He also thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its significant efforts alongside France in recognizing the State of Palestine.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the decision, considering it an expression of commitment to international law and a political solution to the conflict in accordance with UN resolutions to achieve peace in the region and the world.

The ministry expressed its gratitude and appreciation to Macron and the friendly Republic of France, both government and people, for this historic decision, as emphasized by President Macron in response to President Mahmoud Abbas’s message, calling on countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take such a step, urging all countries of the world to participate actively in the international conference that will be held in New York and to take practical measures necessary to protect the two-state solution and the opportunity to achieve peace.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered this decision a victory for the diplomacy led by President Mahmoud Abbas and for the efforts made by brotherly and friendly Arab countries in support of our people's just and legitimate rights, especially the efforts of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to garner wider recognitions of the State of Palestine, according to its statement.

Meanwhile, Hamas welcomed Macron's announcement, considering it a positive step in the right direction towards justice for the oppressed Palestinian people and support for their legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent Palestinian state on all their occupied territories, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas stated in a statement: "We consider this important French stance a political development that reflects the growing international conviction of the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the occupation to distort the facts or prevent the will of free peoples."

It called on all countries around the world, especially European countries and those that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine, to follow France's example and fully recognize the rights of the Palestinians, foremost the right of return and self-determination, and the establishment of their fully sovereign independent state on their land, with Jerusalem as its capital.

It emphasized that such international steps represent political and moral pressure on the occupation, which continues its atrocities and aggression and acts of genocide and starvation against the people of Gaza, as well as its occupation and settlement in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

For its part, Israel expressed its strong anger, a stance endorsed by the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron's decision, stating that this step "rewards terrorism and risks creating another Iranian proxy, as happened in Gaza," according to him.

Netanyahu added: "A Palestinian state under these circumstances would be a launching pad for the annihilation of Israel, not for living in peace alongside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel."

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that the Palestinian state would be a Hamas state just like Gaza was after the withdrawal from it. He added: "Macron cannot provide security for Israel. We hope he succeeds in doing so on the streets of Paris."

He continued: "Israel's attempt to establish its security based on Palestinian promises to fight terrorism completely failed in the Oslo process, and Israel will no longer bet on its security and future."

Meanwhile, reactions continued from all ministers and members of the Israeli Knesset from the ruling coalition parties, denouncing Macron's positions and considering them a reward to Hamas for such a stance.

Notably, no comments were made by any opposition figures regarding France's position.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted the same Israeli stance, stating that the decision rewards Hamas, emphasizing his country's strong rejection of this announcement and its opposition to it.

Rubio said: "This reckless decision only serves Hamas's propaganda and rolls back the peace process... It is a slap in the face of the victims of October 7."