Israel Weighs Closing French Consulate After Macron Pledges to Recognize Palestinian State

Israel’s cabinet is deliberating a recommendation to close France’s consulate in Jerusalem in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September 2025. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar raised the issue during a cabinet meeting on August 17, 2025, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shutter the diplomatic mission as a countermeasure to France’s leadership in a growing wave of Western nations endorsing Palestinian statehood. Macron announced on July 24, 2025, “In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will solemnly announce this at the United Nations General Assembly in September this year.”

France, the first G7 nation to commit to this move, is joined by Australia, whose Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.” Canada and Britain have also signalled conditional support for recognition, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney tying it to Palestinian Authority reforms and elections, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanding Israel take steps toward a ceasefire and sustainable peace. Malta has also pledged early recognition, marking five Western nations diverging from Israel’s position.

In response, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocated for annexing parts of Judea and Samaria, arguing that Macron’s decision provides “yet another compelling reason to finally apply Israeli sovereignty over the historic regions of Judea and Samaria, and to definitively abandon the failed concept of establishing a Palestinian terrorist state in the heart of the Land of Israel.” U.S. officials have criticized the recognition campaign, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it “reckless” and stating, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.” President Donald Trump targeted Canada’s stance, writing on Truth Social, “Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh, Canada!!!”

France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted a UN conference in July 2025 to lay the groundwork for this initiative, attended by over 100 countries but boycotted by Israel. The escalating diplomatic rift follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, intensifying regional tensions and complicating peace efforts.