France declares West Bank annexation as “clear red line”

The French presidency warned Friday that the annexation of the occupied West Bank is a “clear red line.”

The warning comes after ‘Israeli’ officials recently hinted at annexation in response to the growing number of Western countries, including France, that intend to recognize a Palestinian state.

A senior advisor to President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that 10 countries that have decided to recognize a Palestinian state will participate in a conference in New York on Monday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.

These countries are France, Britain, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino.

Macron is scheduled to formally announce France’s recognition of the Palestinian state at approximately 3 PM New York time on Monday.

According to the French source, he will co-chair the conference with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who will speak via video conference.

Warnings of a ‘Worse Violation’ of UN Resolutions

The intention of France and other nations to recognize a Palestinian state amid the war and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza has drawn strong condemnation from ‘Israel’, which views the step as a “reward” for Hamas.

‘Israeli’ officials have hinted at annexing large parts of the West Bank, which ‘Israel’ has occupied since 1967, in response to the recognitions.

“Our agenda is positive. It is not an agenda of responses and counter-responses. We are making an effort for peace,” the Elysée official said.

“This would naturally be the worst possible violation of U.N. resolutions,” the official continued.

However, the official added that “annexing the West Bank is a clear red line” for France.

“The most important thing today is to take all possible measures to preserve the two-state solution. Of course, the annexation of the West Bank would be one of the steps that threaten that the most.”