Recognizing Terror: Macron’s Dangerous Shift on Palestinian Statehood

With Hamas on the ropes and Israel having sacrificed so much to confront Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran since the brutal attacks of October 7, one must seriously question the wisdom – just as ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo does – of offering Hamas a lifeline now.

As world leaders (including in France, the UK, and Ireland) take a harsh stance against Israel and threaten to recognize Palestinian statehood, the ACLJ continues to stand for Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East. In response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement to recognize Palestinian statehood, we sent a letter informing the president about the dangers such actions present.

President Macron’s decision comes as a surprise, given that France has consistently called on both Israel and the Palestinians to uphold “their commitment to a negotiated settlement and the two-state solution, and to refrain from any unilateral action undermining the conditions to achieve that.” His announcement is especially surprising in light of the conditions he laid out on May 30, 2025, to be met for Palestinian statehood to be recognized.

The six conditions President Macron set forth were:

[T]he liberation of the remaining hostages held by Hamas; the demilitarization of Hamas; the exclusion of Hamas from the governance of any Palestinian state; reforming the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank; the eventual Palestinian state’s recognition of Israel and its right to live in security; and the creation of an unspecified “security architecture” for the entire region.

Palestinians have yet to meet any of these conditions, yet President Macron has inexplicably made the decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Our letter reminds President Macron of the horrific events of October 7, 2023, which made clear that the terrorist groups operating out of Gaza have no regard for human life. We emphasized that his decision will not be conducive to peace and also risks encouraging additional attacks similar to October 7 – resulting in more innocent Israelis and Palestinians dying.

We also reminded him that

[Recognizing Palestinian statehood] lacks any legal basis and “rewards” terrorist organisations, such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). . . . France’s decision will encourage and empower these terrorist groups to continue acting on their clearly stated and demonstrated intent to destroy Israel and to continue their barbaric attacks on innocent Israeli men, women, children, and the elderly.

The fact that Hamas, a terrorist organization, expressed its support for President Macron’s decision should sound the alarm to all U.N. Member States – especially those who also support a Palestinian state.

Our letter emphasizes that Macron’s decision undermines the United Nations Security Council Resolutions that call for “respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and the right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.” Instead of creating peace, this decision will encourage Hamas and other terrorist groups to continue their unlawful attacks against Israel and terror against innocent civilians. Moreover, all the agreements made between Israel and the Palestinian Authority leaders will be undermined.

We further emphasized the importance of Palestinians negotiating in good faith, denouncing Hamas, and recognizing Israel’s right to exist. As long as the Palestinians continue to reject these vital conditions for peace and the terrorist organizations continue to target defenseless civilians and continue to commit war crimes against both Israelis and Palestinians, any state that recognizes a Palestinian state makes itself complicit in the serious crimes the terrorist organizations are committing.

We urge world leaders to confront these harsh realities and pressure Hamas to demand the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, take serious steps to dismantle Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating from the Gaza Strip, and encourage Palestinian leaders to negotiate in good faith, instead of unilaterally and prematurely recognizing Palestinian statehood.