France joins growing list of Western countries that recognize Palestine as a state : NPR
France joined the growing number of Western countries on Monday which announced that they would recognize Palestine as a state. Israel denounced this decision.
Leila Fadel, host:
As part of the decline we have just heard Franco speaking, Israel denounced this decision of France, the United Kingdom and other American allies to recognize Palestine as a state. Israel described it as a quote, “Charade” and refused to participate in a United Nations conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia. The American seats were also empty, as Michele Kelemen of NPR reports.
Michele Kelemen, byline: diplomats from around the world came here to try to give the Palestinian cause a boost. French President Emmanuel Macron described him as part of his country’s historical efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
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President Emmanuel Macron: (French speaking).
Kelemen: Macron has won noisy cheers by declaring that France recognizes a Palestinian state and plans to open an embassy once there is a cease-fire in Gaza and Hamas published all its hostages. Outside the general assembly room, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon accused Macron and others of playing in the hands of Hamas.
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Danny Danon: They feel that they are doing something, but they don’t promote peace. On the contrary, they support terrorism.
Kelemen: President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas could only attend the conference by video after the Trump administration refused him and his delegation visas to come here. He used his speech to ask for a cease-fire in Gaza and discussions with Israel. Abbas spoke by an interpreter.
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Mahmoud Abbas: (through) Hamas will have no role in government. Hamas and other factions must abandon their weapons to the Palestinian authority.
Kelemen: But Israel does not even consider the Palestinian authority as a partner for peace, and the ambassador Danon said that the idea of a two -state solution was not on the table. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he sees no other outcome. He is also concerned about what he described as the incessant expansion of the colonies in the West Bank and the creeping threat of annexation.
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Antonio Guterres: The situation is morally, legally and politically intolerable. We have to re -engage ourselves with the two -state solution before it is too late.
Kelemen: Guterres said that the State for the Palestinians is, in its words, a right, not a reward. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that there will be no Palestinian state. He must address the world body on Friday.
Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the United Nations.
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