France hints at recognizing Palestinian state in June

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday France could recognize a Palestinian state in June, adding that in turn some countries in the Middle East could recognize the state of Israel.

"We need to move towards recognition (of a Palestinian state). And so over the next few months, we will. I'm not doing it to please anyone. I'll do it because at some point it will be right," he said during an interview on France 5 television.

"And because I also want to take part in a collective dynamic that should also enable those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in their turn, something that many of them are not doing."

Even though Palestine has been recognized as a sovereign state by almost 150 countries, most major Western powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan.

Among countries that do not recognize Israel are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

"Our objective is somewhere in June, with Saudi Arabia, to chair this conference where we could finalize the movement towards reciprocal recognition by several countries," Macron said.

The announcement comes after Macron visited Egypt on an official trip. He accompanied Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to the city of Arsh in Northern Sinai where he met wounded Palestinians getting treatment.

During the visit, the French Embassy in Cairo released a joint statement from Paris, Cairo, and Amman, urging an immediate return to a ceasefire to ensure the protection of Palestinians and enable the rapid delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid.

The statement also voiced support for Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, which has been backed by both the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

*With input from news desk