PARIS: France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday. “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September,” the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram. Including France, Palestinian statehood is now recognized by 142 countries, according to an AFP tally, though Israel and the United States strongly oppose recognition.

More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe.

Naftali Bennett, a former politician who served as the 13th prime minister, blasted the French decision to recognize a Palestinian state in September.