A coalition of leading US Jewish groups turned down an invitation to meet French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot following Paris’s announcement that it would recognize a Palestinian state in September. The groups accused Paris of “dishonoring the victims of October 7th” and urged French President Emmanuel Macron to reconsider the decision. The Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, B’nai B’rith International, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, UJA-Federation of New York, and World Jewish Congress expressed their deep concern that France’s approach undermines prospects for a mutually negotiated future for Israelis and Palestinians. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the plan, stating that it only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. US President Donald Trump echoed Rubio’s statement, stating that “what [Macron] says doesn’t matter.”
A coalition of leading US Jewish groups has turned down an invitation to meet French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot following Paris’s announcement that it would recognize a Palestinian state in September. The groups accused Macron of backtracked on “specific conditions” for recognizing Palestinian statehood, which the groups said he outlined three months ago. These conditions included the release of hostages still held in Gaza and Hamas’s surrender. The groups said that by abandoning these conditions, France rewards Hamas for its continued brutality and sends a dangerous message that legitimizes terrorism while dishonoring the victims of October 7, 2023. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday the US “strongly rejects” the plan, stating that this reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. US President Donald Trump said “what [Macron] says doesn’t matter.” The Jewish groups expressed disappointment that they were invited to discuss a policy that appears to have already been finalized and urged French President Emmanuel Macron to reconsider the decision.
