In a significant reversal of its position, France announced on Friday its support for granting Palestine full member state status of the United Nations. The move marks a crucial step in the Palestinians' long-standing quest for international recognition.
France is working for full recognition of the Palestinian state
At a special session of the UN General Assembly this Friday, France joined an overwhelming majority of countries to adopt a resolution urging the Security Council to favorably review the Palestinian candidacy.
Although the adopted resolution does not grant immediate membership to Palestine, it nevertheless stipulates that it meets the required criteria and recommends that the Security Council reconsider its request with a priori favorable consideration.
The General Assembly's vote, despite its symbolic nature, reflects growing international support for the Palestinian state.
In fact, 143 countries, including France, have approved the resolutionand only 9 negative votes, mainly from the United States and Israel, opposed this decision.
This result illustrates growing global solidarity with the Palestinians, despite Washington's constant opposition to their membership in the UN in the absence of a negotiated peace agreement with Israel.
According to French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, “It is time for the United Nations to act to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two-state solution“. While unequivocally condemning Hamas attacks, Paris calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and opposes the ongoing Israeli offensive in Rafah.
Towards full recognition of the Palestinian state?
Although it does not yet allow Palestine to become the 194th member state of the UN, the resolution adopted Friday gives it important new rights and privileges.
From September, Palestinians will be able to sit among member states, submit proposals and participate fully in UN conferences.
These diplomatic advances, combined with broad international support, strengthen the prospects for full recognition of the Palestinian state at the UN.
However, the path remains strewn with obstacles, foremost among which is the opposition of the United States, which threatens to once again use its right of veto in the Security Council.
Ultimately, only a negotiated political solution can bring a lasting end to the conflict and pave the way for Palestinian accession. France, through its vote and its renewed commitment, intends to actively contribute to this alongside the international community. It remains to transform the hope aroused into concrete actions for peace.
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