PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stern warning to Israel, declaring that any move toward annexing parts of the West Bank would cross a “red line” and provoke a strong European response.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Paris, Macron stressed that settler violence and the expansion of settlements were escalating to alarming levels, threatening peace and violating international law.
“Plans for partial or total annexation, whether legal or de facto, are a red line,” Macron said, vowing that France and its European partners would “respond strongly.”
The meeting came amid a fragile truce between Hamas and Israel, one month after the ceasefire following two years of conflict that began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
President Abbas, 89, who leads the Palestinian Authority, is seen as a possible figure to govern Gaza under post war arrangements. Macron reaffirmed France’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September and called for renewed efforts to stabilize the region.
Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the Gaza conflict began. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 1,000 Palestinians including militants have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, while 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have died in retaliatory attacks.
Following their discussions, both leaders announced the formation of a joint committee aimed at “consolidating the State of Palestine.” Macron said the body will help draft a new Palestinian constitution, a preliminary version of which has already been shared by Abbas.
The Paris meeting underscored France’s renewed diplomatic push for peace and a two-state solution, as Macron warned that unchecked aggression could further destabilize the Middle East.
