On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France was preparing to recognize the Palestinian state within a few months. If it moves forward, the Paris will officially become a 12th European Union member to accept the existence of the Palestinian state. Last year, Slovenia, Ireland and Spain did so, which the total number of European Union states was recognizing Palestine until 11 out of 27.
French recognition will be an important step in the right direction, especially if it confirms Palestine’s 1967 borders and Eastern Jerusalem as its capital, respecting international law provisions and international consent.
It can move other European countries to do so, including Luxembourg and Portugal and put significant pressure on others, especially the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Belgium.
However, France is in danger of converting Palestine into another empty gesture to save Palestine’s Israeli possession and the growing opposition among Europeans for massacre in Gaza.
Under Macron, France is away from fulfilling its legal and political obligations towards Palestine, which is turning eyes for Israeli’s horrific crimes and violations. In this context, the French declaration can be seen as a diplomatic step which is very low, it is too late.
Until some time ago, Western powers air -conditioned Palestine’s recognition on the outcome of a large extent peace talks, which actually had to give Israel a veto correct on the Palestinian state. This is because Israel does not want the conversation to produce a solution-a two-state or one-state with the boundaries of 1967 that has equal rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
The Israeli law opposed the recognition of Palestine and fulfill the right to self -determination to the right of Palestinian, but the Western powers continue to do the work as if it was not so.
Israel was given the benefit on Palestine, despite the fact that its own state was based on the United Nations resolution 181, which called for the creation of two states, and its membership in the United Nations was air -conditioned on the implementation of the proposals of 181 and 194 – later related to the right to return to Palestine’s reform. The gradual Israeli governments have systematically violated several other people along with both proposals without facing any result from their Western colleagues.
Now that the Israeli government has finally made it clear that its plan is ethnic cleaning and anesthesia of all Palestine, some western countries are rethinking their attitude and choosing the option to recognize the Palestinian kingdom.
While recognition is important, this may not be the only step such as a country like France should take to implement the right to self -determination. France is a pre -colonial power in the Middle East, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a prominent member of the European Union, one of the most important trading partners in Israel and an important donor for Palestine.
For example, there is moral and legal obligation to do more than this. Recognized on its own is not going to stop the ongoing ethnic cleaning and attachment. These processes continue without stopping because countries like France fail to make and keep Israel accountable.
For example, France was one of the first European countries to actually immune to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him in November. Paris has opened its airspace on several occasions for Netanyahu on several occasions to fly the ICC on the way to the United States for violation of its obligations under Rome law.
Despite the growing calls for an arms Ambargo on Israel, France continued to sell arms to the Israeli army during the ongoing massacre. French citizens have no consequences to engage in settling-colonialism in the West Bank occupied or serve in the forces of Israel’s possession, accused of repeatedly committing frightening war crimes.
Similarly, France continues to tolerate money for illegal Israeli settlements, while many French companies have contributed to the ongoing attachment process of the occupied Palestinian region.
France has been given a special role in Jerusalem regarding protecting the status quo profit of Christian sects. However, it has hardly taken any concrete measures to prevent Israel’s efforts to impose illegal taxes on churches and to handle the property of the church.
If France is actually interested in being a broker of peace in the Middle East, it only needs to be more than recognizing the Palestinian state. It should work according to its obligations under the United Nations Charter and Rome law. Palestinian land should put real pressure on Israel to eliminate its occupation and colonization and take action against companies and companies involved in them. The ICC should reversed its decision to give immunity to Israeli officials interested in the interested Israel.
At the European Union levels, France must join Spain and Ireland, in which Israel’s Article 2’s major violations should be sought to review the European Union-Israel Association Agreement, which suggests that the relationship should be based on respect for human rights.
It goes without saying that the Israeli government opposed any belief of Palestine and will use its available equipment to stop it. It can coordinate with close Israeli colleagues like the United States, gathering domestic opposition, and action against diplomats in Jerusalem – among other strategies.
This will force France to face the moment of its truth: is it ready to stand for its principles, or will it bend in front of Israeli Blackmail? Will it lead the route in Europe to respect international obligations, or will it become an empty gesture to its recognition of Palestine?
At a time when the administration of US President Donald Trump supports ethnic cleaning as an official policy and the European Union is at its lowest political point in Palestine, France has an opportunity to create a difference. It may join members of other European Union such as Spain and Ireland, which is emphasizing for global South as well as a rule-based international order where Palestine is no longer an exception to the ideal. It can remain up to your motto of “Liberte, égalité, Fraternité” by supporting the freedom, equality of Palestinians, equality and fraternity of the people.
The ideas expressed in this article are the author’s own and not necessarily reflecting the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
