The Élysée announced on Friday September 19, 2025 that ten countries, including France, will officially recognize the state of Palestine at a summit scheduled for Monday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Paris has also warned that any Israeli attempt to annex the West Bank would constitute an “insurmountable threshold”.
Ten countries ready to take the plunge
According to an adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, the decision was coordinated between ten capitals. In addition to France, there is Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, Andorra and Saint-Marin. All will formalize their recognition of the Palestinian State together on Monday, during an event organized in New York.
French President Emmanuel Macron will pronounce his speech on Monday around 3 p.m. (local time), confirming recognition. The summit will be co-chaired with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salmane, who will intervene by videoconferencing.
A warning to Israel
In its press release, the Élysée also reacted to the recent declarations of Israeli officials evoking a possible project to annex the West Bank. Paris described such an “clear red line” approach and recalled its attachment to a political solution based on two states.
A dynamic of progressive recognition
In 2014, Sweden was the first country in the European Union to officially recognize the Palestinian State. Ten years later, in the context of the conflict in Gaza, Spain, Ireland and Norway (excluding EU) followed on May 28, 2024, quickly joined by Slovenia and Armenia a few weeks later.
To date, 148 of the 193 UN member states recognize Palestine, mainly in Africa, Asia and South America.
