Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron that the creation of a Palestinian state would represent a “huge reward for terrorism”, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office, BTA reports.
Meanwhile, in a post on the social network X, President Macron stressed that he had called on Netanyahu to reconsider the possibility of a political solution through the creation of two states.
In recent days, Macron has repeatedly expressed France's readiness to recognize a Palestinian state, which could happen as early as June.
“During the conversation, the prime minister firmly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, stating that it would be a huge reward for terrorism“, said the official statement from Netanyahu's office. It added that, according to the prime minister, such a solution, implemented near Israeli cities, would turn the new state into a “stronghold of Iranian terrorism“.
The Israeli statement also emphasizes that “not a single Palestinian“ did not condemn the unprecedented attack by “Hamas“ on southern Israel on October 7 – an event that led to the current war in the Gaza Strip.
For his part, Macron outlined France's priorities, including: a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, increased humanitarian aid and the search for a political solution. “In this context, I envision a conference in June that France will co-chair with Saudi Arabia, taking into account the security interests of both Israel and all in the region“, he wrote in X.
This conference is expected to trigger a wave of recognitions of the Palestinian state, including from France, as well as recognition of Israel by a number of Arab countries — as part of a new approach to achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East, Macron said.
The French position in support of the creation of a Palestinian state has provoked a sharp reaction from part of the French political class and the Israeli authorities.
On the same day, Macron also had a telephone conversation with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
To date, nearly 150 countries have recognized the Palestinian state. In May 2024, Ireland, Norway and Spain took this step, and in June Slovenia joined.