French Celebrities Urge Macron to Recognize Palestinian State
A joint statement by 235 notable French personalities, including actors Leila Bekhti and Taher Rahim, singers Camélia Jordana and DJ Snake, and many others, has called upon President Emmanuel Macron to recognize Palestine as a state. This initiative aligns France with countries like Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia, which have already made such declarations.
In the letter, reported by the French newspaper Liberation, the signatories decried the bombing of refugee camps in Rafah and the killing of over 35,000 civilians in Gaza during ongoing conflicts. They characterized these acts as a 'genocide in real time,' heavily documented and shown on screens worldwide. The group of artists argued that France, a nation known for its stance on human rights and enlightenment, must take a clear and humanitarian stance against these atrocities.
The statement reads, 'Spain, Ireland, and Norway took the path of dignity and humanity by officially recognizing the State of Palestine, joining 143 countries that officially recognize it.' The artists implored Macron 'not to follow the wrong path of history and stand by shame.' They emphasized that the recognition is not only a response to the current massacre in Gaza but also in support of the Palestinian people's right to exist. They concluded with the call, 'Long live justice, long live peace, and long live Free Palestine.'
- A similar call for action was published by the French newspaper Le Monde, signed by business people and intellectuals. They advocate for recognizing the State of Palestine as a vital first step in negotiations aimed at bringing about stability in the region.
- President Macron previously indicated his readiness to recognize Palestine but stressed that the timing should be strategically beneficial and not motivated solely by emotional responses.
