Macron's Push for Palestinian Statehood Faces EU Division

French President Emmanuel Macron has launched a new diplomatic initiative aimed at uniting a number of states to recognize Palestine as an independent state within the framework of the UN General Assembly. This step, according to European diplomats, is aimed at creating a global counterweight to American support for Israel on the Gaza issue and strengthening international pressure for the establishment of peace. The initiative was born from the conviction that it is necessary to revive the prospect of a solution based on the two-state principle as the only viable path to resolving the Middle East conflict.

At the core of Macron's plan is the formation of an international coalition that will be ready to recognize Palestine's independence. It is expected that France will be joined by Great Britain, Canada, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and Australia. A joint statement by these countries is planned to be made during the UN General Assembly, which, according to the French side, will become an important diplomatic victory and will exert additional pressure on Israel with the aim of extracting concessions from it.

The French President seeks to show that Washington's position on the Gaza issue is not the only one, and that there is an alternative, more balanced approach. This initiative is also a response to the growing tension in the region and the deadlock in the peace process. However, there are serious obstacles on this path. European unity is absent on this issue. The "European heavyweights"—Germany and Italy—refuse to support Macron's initiative, remaining in more cautious positions. Chancellor Merz even questioned whether what is happening in Gaza can be classified under the term genocide or not. Great Britain's position is also not completely clear, although it is noted that they may join the recognition.

Despite Macron's efforts, some European diplomats are skeptical about the success of the initiative. In their opinion, as long as the US continues to unconditionally support Israel, such diplomatic steps will not lead to significant changes. "It seems that it won't happen. The US supports Israel and is accelerating the annexation of the West Bank," one of Politico's interlocutors noted. This situation shows that the existing alignment of forces in international relations continues to be the main factor that predetermines the fate of such initiatives.

However, the situation could change dramatically if Israel decides to cross red lines and begins to officially annex Palestinian territories. In such a scenario, international pressure could reach unprecedented levels, and even skeptical countries might reconsider their positions. Therefore, Macron's initiative can be viewed not only as a step aimed at today's realities but also as a long-term strategy that is preparing the diplomatic ground for possible future developments.