Exclusive Report: Behind the Political Tsunami Against Israel – Led by Macron
The internal Muslim-leftist pressure in France has pushed President Macron to announce imminent recognition of the "State of Palestine" – with the trigger being controversial images from Gaza.
On July 23, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin to discuss the Gaza crisis. According to The Times, this meeting sparked France’s move toward recognizing a “Palestinian State,” which lacks defined borders. Macron explained to Merz that he was under immense political pressure domestically and was likely to recognize Palestine at the UN in September. Merz, however, advised caution in such a decision.
The next day, without prior coordination with the Germans, Macron publicly announced France's recognition of Palestine, emphasizing it as a step toward France's commitment to a "just and long-term peace." This dramatic move marked a significant shift in European diplomacy in the Middle East. It was catalyzed by the publication of starving children’s images from Gaza on July 19, many of which have since been debunked or taken out of context. This recognition was followed by similar declarations from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Europeans, feeling that the U.S. had abandoned efforts to resolve the conflict, developed an eight-point plan aimed at establishing a technocratic government in Gaza, disarming Hamas, and setting up an international security force. This plan was presented on July 29 by Jonathan Powell, a senior British security advisor.
The next day, 22 Arab nations signed a declaration at a UN summit co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, collectively calling for the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli withdrawal.
The latest crisis between Israel and Europe occurred last weekend when Germany imposed a partial arms embargo on Israel. Chancellor Merz, a close friend of Israel, announced the suspension of weapons shipments that could be used in Gaza.
In London, public pressure led the Labour government under Starmer to recognize Palestine. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, initially skeptical, changed his stance after the expansion of settlements and the publication of debunked Gaza images.
The New York Times further revealed that a summit in Scotland between Trump and Starmer, initiated by Europeans, aimed to pressure Netanyahu into easing the situation in Gaza and allowing more humanitarian aid. Trump publicly acknowledged the "real hunger" in Gaza and stated the urgent need to feed the children, providing Britain with the requested statement.
However, experts speaking with The Times pointed out that these unilateral moves against Israel are unlikely to affect the course of the war, as the Israeli cabinet recently approved an expansion of operations against Hamas in Gaza until all hostages are freed and the terror group is destroyed.