Overview

• Portugal’s foreign ministry said it will formally recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, ahead of planned announcements tied to next week’s UN meetings in New York.
• France plans to confer recognition during a France–Saudi gathering at the UN on Monday, with President Emmanuel Macron slated to speak and partners including Belgium, Canada, Australia, Luxembourg, Malta and others expected to align.
• The Times reported, without named sources, that the UK could act as early as this weekend, a politically sensitive moment for Prime Minister Keir Starmer during President Trump’s state visit.
• Israel denounced the push, declared Macron persona non grata and threatened to close France’s Jerusalem consulate, while the United States and Germany reiterated opposition to recognition at this time.
• France’s interior minister instructed prefects to prevent town halls from flying Palestinian flags on the planned day of action, as the United States also restricted visas for Palestinian Authority officials ahead of UN events.