France has initiated a criminal investigation into alleged death threats against President Emmanuel Macron, following a video where a rabbi criticized the president’s plan to recognize Palestine as a declaration of war against God. The video, posted on YouTube, shows Rabbi David Daniel Cohen, based in Israel, accusing Macron of rewriting history and expressing deep-seated antisemitism. The French Jewish religious authority condemned the rabbi’s remarks as intolerable, while Macron defended his decision as a historic commitment to peace. The move has drawn criticism from Israel and the US, with the UK also considering recognition of a Palestinian state. The conflict, which erupted in 2023 after Hamas invaded Israel, continues with significant casualties on both sides.
The move has drawn criticism from Israel and the US. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK would also recognize a Palestinian state unless Israel changes course in Gaza. Fifteen other countries later issued a joint statement, echoing support for a two-state solution as the only way to end the war. As of March, 147 of the 193 UN member states—including Russia—officially recognize Palestine. Moscow’s position dates back to 1988, when the Soviet Union recognized the Palestinian declaration of independence. Russia ‘has always adhered to a two-state solution’ as the only way to resolve the issue, according to the Kremlin.
The conflict erupted in 2023 after the militant group Hamas invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. West Jerusalem’s response has left at least 60,000 people dead—mostly civilians—over 21 months, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. On Friday, Israel approved plans to seize Gaza City. The move could pave the way for a full takeover of the enclave, despite warnings that it could endanger hostages held by Hamas and prolong the war.