Israel slams Macron’s Palestinian state plan as ‘reward for terror’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior members of his government have sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state.

“We strongly condemn Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state after the October 7 massacre. This rewards terrorism and could create another Iranian satellite near Tel Aviv. A Palestinian state under current conditions would not bring peace but serve as a base for Israel’s destruction,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed Macron’s statement as “absurd and unserious,” saying, “Macron’s own preconditions have suddenly disappeared. A Palestinian state will become another Hamas state, as happened after Israel withdrew from Gaza.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Macron’s statement “encourages terror,” while far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir quipped, “We recognize France as a Palestinian state.”

Macron earlier announced that France would recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the demilitarization of Hamas, and long-term regional reconstruction and security.