French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on social media Wednesday (July 30) that foreign ministers from 15 countries – including France, Andorra, and Australia – issued a joint statement in New York on July 29 expressing their willingness to recognize Palestine and calling on other nations to respond positively.
Key Points:
- The signatories comprise nations that have already recognized Palestine and others “actively considering recognition.”
- The statement declares recognition “a crucial step toward implementing the two-state solution.”
Context:
The call came at the close of a high-level international conference (July 28-29) at the UN on advancing the two-state solution, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. The meeting aimed to reignite peace efforts for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reaffirm global support for Palestinian statehood.
Notable Commitment:
French President Emmanuel Macron signaled on July 24 that France will formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly this September.