French ambassador: ‘Recognizing Palestine basis for Arab countries normalize with Israel’ – KAN
Journès described how he believes the ongoing war and surrounding diplomatic turmoil could add up to something positive, explaining that “Israel can turn this status into a victory.”
The French Ambassador to Israel, Frédéric Journès, discussed French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state and the Israel-Hamas War during an interview with KAN on Thursday.
Journès described how he believes the ongoing war and surrounding diplomatic turmoil could add up to something positive, explaining that “Israel can turn this status into a victory.”
The French decision would “serve as a basis for the normalization of Arab countries with Israel,” according to Journès, adding that “recognition of a Palestinian state will lead to recognition of Israel as a state as well.”
France is one of 140 countries that voted to approve a United Nations resolution that would lead to the official recognition of a Palestinian state.
French Ambassador Frédéric Journès, German ambassador Steffen Siebert speaking at The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference, September 16, 2025. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Implications of the Israel-Hamas war
“On the day after, Gaza will not be under Hamas’s control,” Journès shared, regarding what the end of the ongoing war might look like. “It will not be simple, but Israel has already done tremendous military work against Hamas in Gaza. They killed their entire leadership.”
Journès suggested that “military work will not be enough here,” the real issue is Hamas’ constant recruitment of young civilians, and that the way to resolve that issue is by empowering “credible local authorities who will tackle crime and provide a normal life to the residents.”
Journès acknowledged the serious toll this war has taken on the Israeli people: “I see the suffering and the pain here; there is another way to end this, a ceasefire that will lead to the release of the hostages and then to the establishment of an international security force.”
Addressing a rumor that the Israeli government may force the closure of the French embassy in Jerusalem in response to France’s recognition of a Palestinian state, Journès said he had “made clear to our Israeli colleagues that if such a move is carried out, we will respond forcefully.” Journès did not elaborate on what a “forceful” response might entail.
The ambassador rejected the notion of carrying on with hostile diplomacy between the two nations, emphasizing that he hopes that the two nations may one day restore the relationship they shared before October 7.
“We are not the enemy. We are offering options for peace, and attacking the discourse between us is not the right step. Our declaration… is a path to reconstruction and further investments,” he concluded.
