Overview

• France formally recognized a Palestinian state at a New York conference on the two-state solution, joining recent recognitions by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, with Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg and Monaco also announcing recognition.
• The United States and Germany declined to recognize now, with Berlin’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul urging that a negotiated process toward two states must begin and Washington dismissing the step as largely symbolic.
• Israel condemned the recognitions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu vowed there will be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, and ultranationalist ministers urged annexation; Israel and the U.S. boycotted the New York meeting.
• President Emmanuel Macron tied steps such as opening an embassy to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas addressed the gathering by video after being denied a U.S. visa.
• With more than 150 UN member states now recognizing Palestine, analysts describe the move as mostly symbolic given settlement expansion and governance realities, and diplomats caution about potential Israeli retaliation as the UN General Assembly opens with President Donald Trump speaking.