New York (TDI): France, along with Monaco, has officially recognized the State of Palestine in a major diplomatic shift announced at a high-level UN conference on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the gathering, said the move was essential to safeguarding the chances of a two-state solution. “We must do all we can to keep alive the possibility of Israel and Palestine coexisting in peace and security,” he declared, receiving sustained applause.
Macron further explained that Paris would establish an embassy for Palestine once key conditions were met, including reforms within the Palestinian Authority, a ceasefire, and the release of detainees in Gaza.
Several other European nations, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, and San Marino, are also expected to follow suit this week, while Australia, Britain, Canada, Portugal, and Malta had already extended recognition over the weekend. In London, the UK inaugurated a Palestinian embassy, a move seen as especially symbolic given its historical role in the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Read More: UK, Canada, Australia Recognize Palestine, More Countries to Follow
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, though he was not among the conference speakers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who arrived in New York on the same day, did not attend the session.
The Pakistani Foreign Office later noted the country’s active participation in the meeting. On X, Dar welcomed the wave of recognitions and reminded the international community that Pakistan was among the first to acknowledge Palestine in 1988. He called on other nations to “honour their commitment to international law” by taking similar steps.
Read More: FM Dar Arrives in New York for UNGA Session, Palestine High on Agenda
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied entry to the US, addressed the conference remotely. He appealed to nations yet to recognize Palestine to act swiftly and pressed for support toward full UN membership. Abbas pledged reforms and new elections within a year once a ceasefire takes hold.
The event, centered on advancing a two-state solution, comes at a time when Western governments appear more willing than ever to back Palestinian statehood. It followed a July summit where the New York Declaration was drafted and later endorsed by the UN General Assembly on September 12.
