Amman, Sep. 23 (Petra) - France's Ambassador to Jordan, Franck Gellet, said his country announced its recognition of the State of Palestine, following President Macron's commitment made a few weeks earlier, on Monday, 22 September 2025.

In a statement to "Petra" Tuesday, he said the move was made during the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

The diplomat added that the venet was attended by a vast array of heads of State and government, amongst whom His Majesty Abdallah II, King of Jordan. Just ahead of it and since then, eight countries have joined France in this diplomatic breakthrough.

The envoy affirmed France's recognition came in face of the absolute tragedy unfolding before our eyes in Gaza, the continuation of brutal actions by the Israeli authorities and army, the acceleration of their settlement policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and recent calls to implement a "Greater Israel" recognition was a moral duty.

"This is not only consistent with our past positions, our principles, and the defence of international law: it is also a necessity since some had come to explicitly deny that the Palestinians were even a people, not to mention their right to a State. As Mr. Macron insisted in his address, it was time to react," he pointed out.

The envoy noted: "By doing so, France and Saudi Arabia, with the active support of Jordan, succeeded in creating a significant momentum on the international stage: On 12 September, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, with the support of 142 States." By providing a political horizon, he stated this text sets a clear way forward to enable the creation of a sovereign and economically viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel and with all neighbours.

On its side, he noted the Palestinian Authority, the only legitimate recognized actor, committed to reforming itself and to putting in place the conditions for a democratic, functioning State of Palestine, in particular through the organisation of long hoped-for elections. Countries in the region have agreed to deny any future role to Hamas in the leadership of Palestine.

Once a ceasefire is agreed, he said the New York Declaration calls for the withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip, unhindered and massive delivery of humanitarian aid, the establishment of an administrative transition committee under the aegis of the reformed Palestinian Authority, support for the joint reconstruction plan of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the deployment of a stabilization mission France is willing to contribute to.

Gellet indicated that: "My question is: after carefully reading it, who can honestly, in good faith and good will, object to what the Declaration contains? Why, if matters of concerns for the security of the region remain, not tackle them through a sensible debate? Why, for those who challenge its relevance, continue damaging one’s reputation and isolating oneself, for no foreseeable result? As President Macron said, "Peace is much more demanding, much more difficult, than all wars. But the time has come." "The two-state solution is not the easiest, but it is the only one. The one that the vast majority of United Nations Member States have been advocating for, for decades. It prevents extremists on both sides from gaining the upper hand. It does not deprive anyone of their legitimate rights, on the contrary. It is the way of reason," he affirmed.

In the words of His Majesty Abdullah II, "A clear choice stands before us. On one side, to continue down the dark and bloody path of war and conflict. Or, to take the path of peace, through the two-State solution. And today, the world is taking a significant step on the path to achieving just and lasting peace," he said.

//Petra// AG