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France, Saudi Arabia to co-chair June meet on creating Palestinian state: Macron

Macron (C) poses for a picture with members of his delegation and Saudi officials at the Maraya venue museum near the archaeological site of al-Hijr (Hegra), Al-Ula, on Dec 3, 2024. (AFP)
  • Macron said that France and Saudi Arabia have the "will to move forward" on a deal to sell Rafale fighter jets to the Kingdom.
  • Discussions had already been underway for Riyadh to acquire the French-made jets and, though no definitive announcement was expected during Macron's visit.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that he and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would co-chair a conference on the establishment of a Palestinian state in June.

“We have decided to co-chair a conference for the two states in June next year,” Macron said, referring to Israel and a potential Palestinian state.

“In the coming months, together we will multiply and combine our diplomatic initiatives to bring everyone along this path,” he added.

Responding to a question on whether France would recognize a Palestinian state, the French president said he would do so “at the right moment” and at a time “when it triggers reciprocal movements of recognition”.

“We want to involve several other partners and allies, both European and non-European, who are ready to move in this direction but who are waiting for France,” he added.

Macron said the aim was to “trigger a movement of recognition in favor of Israel,” which he said could “provide answers in terms of security for Israel and convince people that the two-state solution is a solution that is relevant for Israel”.

Saudi Arabia had appeared close to a deal to normalize relations with Israel as part of a package that would include security guarantees from the United States, prior to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack which has sparked nearly 14 months of war in Gaza.

Recognition by Saudi Arabia would be a landmark moment in the acceptance of Israel as the kingdom is the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites.

But Riyadh has indicated it is unwilling to move ahead while Israel pursues its campaign in Gaza, hardening its position in recent months and saying it would not recognize Israel without an independent Palestinian state.

The announcement on Tuesday came as the UN General Assembly was due to vote later in the day on convening an international conference in June aimed at advancing the two-state solution as part of its annual review of the Palestinian question.

Calls for a two-state solution, on the basis of a Palestinian state established alongside Israel, have grown since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

In September, Spain hosted a meeting of European officials and ministers from Muslim nations including Saudi Arabia, after Madrid, alongside Ireland and Norway, formally recognized a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank earlier in the year.

Riyadh have ‘will’ to progress fighter jet sale

Macron said that France and Saudi Arabia have the “will to move forward” on a deal to sell Rafale fighter jets to the Kingdom.

“In terms of security and defense, we have very clearly improved things… with the will to move forward on the Rafale, which is a major change in the bilateral relationship,” he told reporters on the second day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

Discussions had already been underway for Riyadh to acquire the French-made jets and, though no definitive announcement was expected during the state visit, a source close to the matter indicated a willingness to “take a decision” in that direction.

Nearly 10 countries already have Rafales or have signed commercial agreements to acquire them including Egypt, Qatar, India, Greece, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Croatia and Serbia.

Macron also said that the two countries had “made progress on everything from naval defense to air defense and satellites”, adding that Saudi Arabia and France “have signed some long-awaited contracts”, without giving any further details.