France Defends U.N. Palestinian Recognition Amid Trump Criticism
A French official has defended the United Nations’ recognition of a Palestinian state, countering criticism from President Donald Trump, who argued the move would reward Hamas for its attacks on October 7. The initiative, spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia, aims to marginalize Hamas and revive the two-state solution by imposing conditions such as condemnation of the attacks, Hamas’ exclusion from Palestinian governance, and regional integration. The proposed package, known as the July ‘Declaration of New York,’ was adopted at the UN General Assembly with support from 142 countries, signaling a broad international consensus to uphold the two-state solution.
Trump, during his address at the UN, sharply condemned the recognition, warning that it would embolden Hamas and prolong the conflict. He argued that the move rewards terrorism rather than promoting peace. In contrast, Pascal Confavereux, the French Foreign Ministry spokesperson, called the initiative a strategic defeat for Hamas, as the plan explicitly opposes the group’s vision of a single state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Confavereux emphasized that the resolution was crafted to save the two-state solution, which he said was in mortal danger one year ago following the Oct. 7 attacks.
French officials also highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the Abraham Accords, a landmark agreement under the Trump administration that fostered regional normalization. Confavereux argued the new plan is a coherent extension of that strategy, offering a path toward what he calls ‘Abraham Two.’ Despite Trump’s criticism, France’s foreign minister asserted that the two leaders maintain a strong relationship, with ongoing discussions on various global issues. Confavereux declined to comment on domestic pressures at home or Macron’s political challenges, focusing instead on the international significance of the initiative.