Overview

• France formally recognized a Palestinian state during the UN General Debate, joining recent moves by the UK, Canada, Australia and others that bring recognitions to roughly 151 of 193 UN members.
• Berlin reiterates that recognition should come only after a negotiated settlement, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government currently opposing both recognition and EU punitive steps against Israel.
• In Brussels, senior center-right figures Michael Gahler (CDU) and Manfred Weber (CSU) support suspending trade provisions of the EU–Israel association agreement as proposed by Ursula von der Leyen.
• EU mechanics make a partial suspension possible by qualified majority, meaning Germany could be outvoted if enough member states back the measure, even as several capitals remain skeptical.
• CSU leader Markus Söder rules out backing German recognition or EU sanctions and warns against escalating measures, while SPD’s Dirk Wiese urges targeted sanctions on ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben‑Gvir as verified reports of Hamas executions in Gaza sharpen calls for accountability.