News- Middle East: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a request from French President Emmanuel Macron to visit the occupied Palestinian territories, insisting that Paris must first drop its planned recognition of a Palestinian state later this month at the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Netanyahu conveyed a clear message to Macron: “Withdraw your decision to recognize a Palestinian state – then you can come.” 

An Israeli official was quoted as saying, “We will not allow him to play both sides.”

Former French member of Parliament Meyer Habib told Israeli television that Macron had sent Netanyahu a message expressing his wish to visit, but Netanyahu conveyed that the French leader would only be welcome if he retracted his plan to recognize Palestine.

Macron, however, stood firm, refused to step back and rejected the Tel Aviv regime’s demand.

At the end of July, Macron announced that France would recognize Palestinian statehood when world leaders meet for the UN General Assembly.

France and Saudi Arabia will co-host the meeting on Palestinian recognition during the UNGA on September 22. 

Australia, Canada, France, and Britain have announced plans to recognize Palestine later this month, joining nearly 150 countries that already have.

Israel and the United States have expressed strong disapproval of nations that are opting to recognize Palestine, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling France's declaration as a “reckless decision” that “merely aids Hamas propaganda”.

Rubio has subsequently declared that the administration of US President Donald Trump will refuse and rescind visas for Palestinian officials prior to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich warned last year that a new illegal settlement would be constructed in the occupied West Bank for each nation that recognizes Palestine.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, has urged nations to take action to halt Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, including by implementing sanctions and an arms embargo against the usurping Tel Aviv regime.

At least 64,231 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 161,583 individuals have been injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

Source: Press TV