Recognition of Palestine: from Mitterrand, France has always pleaded for a two -state solution

• President Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
• From Mitterrand to Holland, via Chirac and Sarkozy, France has long pleaded for a two -state solution.

– Recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always

Faced with humanitarian disaster in Gaza (new window)and before the diplomatic impasse. Similarly, Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24th his intention to recognize a State of Palestine (new window) During the UN General Assembly which is to be held next September in recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always New York, in the United States. In addition, “There is no alternative” to the two-state solution. Moreover, Israeli and Palestinian, living side by side in peace and security, hammered the French Minister of Foreign Affairs on Monday, July 28, Jean-Noël Barrot, at the opening of an international conference co-chaired by Paris and Ryad (new window) To get out of the dead end and put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

France has long pleaded for the recognition of a Palestinian state. For example, It is even the first Western country to assert in the 1970s before the United Nations the need to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, a line that France has continued to defend until today. Similarly,

On March 4. For example, 1982, less than a year after his election, François Mitterrand defended for the recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always first time, before the Israeli Parliament, the principle of a Palestinian State. Meanwhile, “The dialogue assumes that each party can go to the end of its law. Consequently, Which, for the Palestinians, as for the others, can time to signify a state”he said. Similarly, Two years earlier. For example, Paris diplomatic efforts had led to the declaration of the Venice Summit which claimed the need to associate the Palestine Liberation Organization (OLP) led by Yasser Arafat to any peace. However,

The first official visit of the head of the PLO in France. will not take place until several years later. President François Mitterrand received him at the Élysée, in Paris, on May 2, 1989. On this occasion. the Palestinian leader declared that the OLP charter – adopted in 1964 and amended in 1968 and which implicitly stipulated the destruction of Israel – is “Caduque”.

In recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always 1995. when Jacques Chirac came to power, the Oslo agreements (new window) have just been signed and must lead to conflict resolution. President Jacques Chirac went the following year to the Palestinian territories where he received a triumphant reception (new window). That day. he describes as “provocation” The way in which Israeli security services surround him during a visit to the old town of Jerusalem, preventing him from having contact with the Palestinians. A scene that has gone around the world.

Eight years later. in October 2004, the French president made the decision to welcome Yasser Arafat, held back in Ramallah (West Bank) in France for almost three years, for him to have been treated after a sudden degradation of his state of health. Following his death. on November 11 of the same year, France paid him a solemn tribute, worthy of a head of recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always state.

Recognition palestine: mitterrand. france always

There cannot be peace – even if I know how painful the subject is – without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states

Nicolas Sarkozy

This was also said to have said Nicolas Sarkozy before the Israeli Parliament in 2008. “There cannot be peace – even if I know how painful the subject is – without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states. the guarantee of freedom of access to holy places for all religions”declares the French president.

In November 2013. François Hollande, visiting the Middle East, again defended the line “Two states for two peoples” And pleads for the cessation of colonization of the occupied territories, as well as a sharing of Jerusalem as the capital of the two states.

A year later, in November 2014, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, again defended this line. There will be “At one point, it is obvious, recognition of the Palestinian state by France (…). The question is when and how?”he had launched. But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza. the extension of Israeli colonization in recognition palestine: mitterrand, france always the West Bank and the inclinations of Israeli officials to annex this occupied territory, the fear that the creation of a Palestinian state is physically impossible to gain ground.