France has joined a string of countries recognizing Palestine. What the media is writing

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the recognition of Palestine as a state. His speech at the UN General Assembly was a challenge to the United States and Israel, which oppose such a move. The series of diplomatic confessions is expected to have economic consequences for Israel, in addition to symbolic significance. On September 21, Australia, Great Britain, Portugal and Canada also recognized Palestine. What the world media write about Palestine is in the Izvestia digest.

CNN: France tops the list of countries recognizing Palestine

France and a number of other Western countries have officially declared their recognition of the Palestinian State at the United Nations, further exacerbating the international isolation of Israel, which is pursuing its maximalist military goals in the Gaza Strip and expanding settlements in the West Bank. Monaco, Malta and Luxembourg expressed their support for the two-State solution at the summit co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Belgium also announced its recognition, but it will take legal effect only after the liquidation of Hamas and the return of the hostages.

Recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people "does nothing to detract from the rights of the people of Israel, which France has supported since day one," Macron said. During the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the situation in the Gaza Strip "intolerable" and said that the two-state solution was "the only way out of this nightmare." Rejecting criticism, he said that statehood for the Palestinians is "a right, not a reward," and without it there will be "no peace in the region."

Bloomberg: To what extent is Palestine a real state

The vast majority of the world's countries — about 150 — recognize Palestinian statehood. This does not mean that the Palestinian people have their own State in the full sense of the word. Moreover, the possibility of full self-government seems more remote than ever. However, the latest statements have symbolic significance for the Palestinians and serve to diplomatically isolate Israel, whose Government opposes Palestinian statehood.

In accordance with the peace agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the early 1990s, the Palestinian Authority was formed with the aim of limited self-government. She ruled only some parts of the West Bank, while the rest were under Israeli control. In 2007, the Palestinian Authority lost control of the Gaza Strip, which Israeli troops and civilian settlers abandoned in 2005, to the radical Islamist group Hamas, which effectively led to the creation of two separate Palestinian authorities.

The New York Times: World leaders challenge the US and Israel

The movement for Palestinian statehood, despite opposition from Israel and the United States, has intensified amid the increasingly desperate situation in the Gaza Strip. About ten countries either officially recognized Palestine as a State over the weekend or are expected to do so this week. Japan, which has been cooperating with the United States on issues of global importance for decades, has warned of the imminent recognition of Palestine. Representatives of Denmark and the Netherlands made similar statements that their countries would recognize Palestine later, as soon as certain conditions were met.

Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, only the United States is currently opposed to Palestinian statehood. However, Washington's resistance is crucial because the permanent members have the right of veto. The Security Council has the right to approve the creation of a Palestinian State, and the United States is preventing it. Although US President Donald Trump has at times expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, his administration remains resolutely supportive of Tel Aviv.

Politico: Macron revives the ghost of Gaullism

It was the kind of hero's welcome Macron rarely — if ever — gets in his homeland these days. He seemed to enjoy the prolonged applause that followed his 30-minute speech, during which he passionately called for "paying tribute to the Palestinian people and thus recognizing the State of Palestine."

The goal was to offer a bold alternative to Trump, who rejects the two-state solution, and Netanyahu. At the end of his speech, Macron spoke friendly words to Israel and condemned Hamas terrorism, without mentioning the US president. But this will not reduce the irritation factor for Trump, whose aides do not hide their displeasure with Macron. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the independence initiative "reckless," while other administration officials called the move stupid and pointless.

Declaration change: Palestinian "recognition parade" increases pressure on Israel

How will the decisions of European countries affect their relations with Tel Aviv

Reuters: Trump to meet with leaders of Muslim countries and discuss Gaza

On September 23, Trump will meet with leaders and officials of several Muslim-majority countries to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters that the president will hold a multilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan. A source familiar with the situation said that the situation in the Gaza Strip would be discussed.

Trump will address the UN General Assembly on September 23, the day after dozens of world leaders gathered to support the creation of a Palestinian state. This is a landmark diplomatic shift almost two years after the start of the war in Gaza. The two countries have said that a two-State solution is the only way to achieve peace, but Israel has said that recognizing a Palestinian state is a reward for extremism.