According to a report by The Times of Israel, France is reportedly weighing the possibility of opening an embassy in Palestinian Authority-controlled territory in the West Bank following its planned recognition of a Palestinian state, according to Ofer Bronchtein, a longtime adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron on Israeli-Palestinian affairs.
Speaking to Channel 12, Bronchtein said the French embassy would likely be established in Ramallah and would be paired with the opening of a Palestinian embassy in France. He described the step as a “natural” follow-up to Paris’s decision to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, expected in September during the United Nations General Assembly.
Bronchtein further argued that the creation of a Palestinian state was in Israel’s long-term interest, claiming that “the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre would not have happened if there had been a Palestinian state.” He suggested that the political stability provided by statehood would have prevented such an attack.
The French Embassy in Israel did not respond to requests for comment on Bronchtein’s remarks, and no official announcement has yet been made by the French government.
The Palestinian Authority currently administers daily governance in major Palestinian population centers, including Ramallah, where its headquarters are based. However, the Israeli government has consistently opposed unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, framing it as rewarding terrorism. Jerusalem has argued that any such recognition undermines prospects for direct negotiations and instead emboldens groups like Hamas.
The reported French move comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Israel and Paris, with disagreements over the conduct of the war in Gaza and France’s broader Middle East policy. Macron has sought to position France as an advocate for a two-state solution, while Israeli leaders have maintained that conditions are not conducive for Palestinian statehood.
Bronchtein, who has long advised successive French governments on the peace process, reiterated his view that Palestinian statehood is essential not only for Palestinian aspirations but also for Israel’s security. His remarks underline a growing divide between European governments and Israel, as several countries in the region push toward formal recognition of Palestine.
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