Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
The ZOA condemns French President Emmanuel Macron’s “recognition” this past Thursday of a non-existent, illegal Palestinian terror state. Macron’s “recognition” of a State of Palestine rewards the Hamas and PLO/PA (Palestinian Authority) terror regimes; incites and promotes Arab/Islamic terrorism by sending a message that massacring 1,200 Jewish men, women, children and babies pays; violates Israeli sovereign rights and international law which guarantees under the San Remo agreement, UN Charter Article 80 and many more international agreements, the right of the Jewish people the areas that such a state may include and forbids the UN to transfer any part of Palestine to a non-Jewish entity; endangers Israel; tramples over the will of the Israeli people and its democratically elected officials and Knesset (all of which overwhelmingly oppose a Palestinian state); will incite further attacks on France’s beleaguered Jewish community; and could encourage other nations to follow Macron’s despicable example.
It is sickening that while Hamas is still torturing and holding innocent Israelis hostage in the bowels of Hamas’ terror tunnels, and while the Palestinian Authority is still inciting and paying Arab terrorists hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to murder innocent Jews (“pay to slay”), that Macron is rewarding the Hamas and PA/PLO terror regimes. Apparently, France’s large Muslim population (estimated at ten percent of the population) and his 19% dismal approval rating has resulted in Macron losing any sense of decency, morality or respect for international law. And under Law a state cannot be established unless it has stability of institutions, democratic policies, rule of law, respect for human rights and protects minorities. Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority fulfill none of these requirements for statehood recognition. In fact, France’s own EU would forbid such an entity to join even the EU, let alone the UN. Furthermore, it would be a beggar state as Gaza/PA only survives due to the largesse of Iran and other countries.
Notably, today, Palestinian Media Watch reported that PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ (whose Fatah Charter calls for the destruction of Israel) senior adviser on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash stated that “everyone” (every Palestinian) “cheered and praised” the October 7 massacre of 1,200 innocent Israelis and wounding of another 5,000 Israelis and hostage-taking. This is clearly not a population that would live in peace with Israel. Macron is seeking to strengthen the very same people who are cheering the most terrible genocidal atrocities against Jews.
ZOA is encouraged that top U.S. and Israeli government officials and independent experts condemned Macron’s “recognition” of a PA state. Here are some of their important statements:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s tweet: “The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly. This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
- President Trump statement to press: “What he [Macron] says doesn’t matter. . . . that statement doesn’t carry weight.”
- Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. tweet: “The French government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state is curious and disturbing on multiple levels. I am certain this will embolden Hamas and make a ceasefire more difficult. In addition, here are some questions that come to mind. Who’s in charge? What are the borders and boundaries? What is the governance structure? Does Hamas stay involved politically or militarily? Is the West Bank and Gaza part of a single state? Are they allowed to have an army? Does the education system change? Other than these few missing details, it seems like a foolproof plan!”
- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. Cotton tweet: “This [Macron’s recognition announcement] is a shameful endorsement of terrorists. The best way for this conflict to end is to back Israel in its righteous mission of rescuing the hostages and defeating Hamas.”
- Richard Kemp tweet: @COLRICHARDKEMP “Macron planning to recognise a Palestinian state, rewarding the thousands of terrorists who invaded Israel, murdering, raping, torturing, kidnapping & burning. He [Macron] is incentivizing and encouraging jihadists everywhere, including in France.”
- Richard L. Cravatts tweet: @rcravatts “Macron–and the other international leaders who have done this–are “recognizing” nothing, a fiction. What are the borders of this state? Who is its leader? What type of government will it have? Who are the citizens? What social, economic, and cultural cohesion will it have?”
- PM Netanyahu tweet: “We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
- Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin: Called the move “a black stain on France’s history and a direct boost to terrorism.” He added: “The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, and even President Macron’s declaration will not change that.” Levin called for Israel to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, calling it “a just and historic response to the shameful decision by the President of France.”
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee statement (on June 1, after Macron previously promoted the idea of “recognizing” a ‘State of Palestine”): “It’s incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out and present something that I think increasingly Israelis are steadfast against. Oct. 7 changed a lot of things. If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I have a suggestion for them—carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that, but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation. And I find it revolting that they think they have the right to do such a thing.” [A7 link to statement]
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee latest tweet: (July 25) “Macron’s unilateral ‘declaration’ of a ‘Palestinian’ state didn’t say WHERE it would be,” Huckabee wrote in a post on X. “I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called ‘Franc-en-Stine.'”
- Pierre Griselin (French ex-marine and ex-mayor) tweet: “The vast majority of French people disapprove of this announcement by #Macron Thank you for distinguishing between Hamas collaborators and French people who are friends of the Jewish people.”