The Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) issued a statement urging French President Emmanuel Macron to reconsider the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state without conditions such as the release of hostages and the surrender of Hamas.
“Two months ago, the President of the Republic announced he was considering recognising a Palestinian state in June, as part of a conference in New York, which was also to include recognition of Israel by states in the region as well as, among other things, the release of the 56 hostages still held in Gaza and the surrender of Hamas.
Today, as was sadly foreseeable, it must be noted that none of the conditions set out by the President of the Republic himself have been fulfilled.
Having taken the lead in forming a coalition of Western countries in favour of recognising a Palestinian state, France now has the responsibility to declare that, regrettably, the conditions are not met and that no recognition of a Palestinian state can take place in June.
If the President of the Republic chooses to go ahead, the recognition of a Palestinian state in the coming days would be both a diplomatic error and a moral and political fault.
On the diplomatic front, firstly, offering the Palestinians at the start of a process what they are supposed to obtain at the end is counterproductive: it would encourage the Palestinian side to make no concessions and therefore would not serve peace, which relies on mutual concessions between the parties.
On the moral front, recognising a Palestinian state now, without any reciprocity and while hostages are still held in Gaza, would be to offer a symbolic victory to Hamas. While 50 French nationals have been murdered by Hamas, the latter would brand the recognition of a Palestinian state as a trophy and a reward for the terrorism of 7 October.
On the political front, finally, recognising a Palestinian state now would vindicate La France Insoumise (LFI) and agitators who distort the Palestinian cause in order to attack French Jews.
More broadly, this diplomatic episode prompts reflection: are the old demons of France’s “Arab policy” back?
Whereas 18 months ago the President of the Republic proposed an international coalition against Hamas, whereas France is the only country in the world to have organised a national tribute to the French victims of 7 October, and whereas France has twice participated in defending Israel against attacks from Iran, our country now seems to be leading a coalition moving prematurely towards a Palestinian state, in open and declared opposition to Israel.
Crif reiterates its support for all peace processes based on dialogue between the parties.
Everyone wishes for the time of peace to come as soon as possible, with the release of the hostages, the surrender of Hamas, and a just and lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
But in the meantime, decency and realism require acknowledging today the deadlock represented by the presence of a terrorist organisation holding 56 Israeli hostages and harming the cause of the Palestinian civilian population themselves, plunged into the tragic distress of war by Hamas.
To recognise a Palestinian state today unilaterally and without any guarantees would be to reward Hamas and condemn peace.”
