France, UK 'retreat' from Palestinian state recognition ahead of UN summit

The UN summit, recently described as a 'point of no return' for the 'two-state solution,' has been significantly watered down under US and Israeli pressure

News Desk

JUN 7, 2025

https://thecradle.co/articles/france-uk-drop-palestinian-recognition-ahead-of-un-summit

France and the UK will not recognize a Palestinian state at the 17–20 June UN summit in New York, with initial plans for a joint declaration dropped under US pressure, according to reports in western media.

The upcoming conference, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, will instead focus on “gradual steps toward recognition,” with conditions tied to Palestinian political reform, post-war governance in Gaza, and broader regional agreements.

The reversal comes after Paris initially raised expectations for a breakthrough, with President Emmanuel Macron declaring recognition of Palestine a “moral duty and political requirement.” 

That message, however, was followed by diplomatic reassurance to Israel that no such recognition would occur during the summit.

On 6 June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed Paris would not act unilaterally, saying: “France could have taken a symbolic decision. But this is not the choice we made because we have a particular responsibility.”

Any recognition, he added, must “carry diplomatic weight” and be paired with reciprocal steps such as “the recognition of Israel by key Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia.” He also stressed the “absolute necessity” of disarming Hamas.

The US has privately pressured both London and Paris to avoid formal recognition during the summit, urging them to “drop any move toward formal recognition.”

Meanwhile, Arab states expressed frustration with the watered-down agenda. Israel’s refusal to allow a ministerial delegation into Ramallah drew sharp rebuke, with Jordan’s Ayman Safadi blaming the “child-killing” Israeli government for blocking the visit, and Egypt’s Badr Abdel Aty calling Israel “not a true partner for peace.”

On 3 June, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed plans for 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling it “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

The expansion, Israel’s largest in decades, drew condemnation across Europe. 

In 2024, Ireland, Spain, and Norway recognized Palestinian statehood, citing Israel’s “genocidal war” and settlement expansion. Macron echoed the criticism but insists recognition must exclude Hamas, a view shared by the UK.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has called Israel’s war on Gaza genocidal and ruled out normalizing ties under current conditions.

While The Elders - a group of former senior UN officials and global leaders - urged France to recognize Palestine as a step toward peace, regardless of talks over Hamas or state structure, Macron’s adviser said the summit must move beyond symbolism and link Gaza’s end to broader resolution.