President of the General Assembly,
Secretary-General,
Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and gents,
We are right here as a result of the time has come. The time has come for launch of the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to cease the warfare, the bombardment of Gaza, the massacres and the flight of civilians. The time has come, as a result of emergency is all over the place. The time has come for peace, as a result of immediately it might be past our grasp. That is why we’re gathered right here at the moment. Some will say it’s too late, others will say it’s too quickly. One factor is definite: we will now not wait.
In 1947, this Assembly determined to divide Palestine, then underneath a mandate, into two States: one Jewish and the opposite Arab, thereby recognizing the appropriate of each teams to self-determination. In so doing, the worldwide group consecrated the State of Israel, lastly fulfilling the future of a individuals who, after hundreds of years of wandering and persecution, had been lastly in a position to set up a terrific democracy there. The promise of an Arab state, nonetheless, stays unfulfilled to at the present time.
Since then, Israelis and Palestinians have travelled down a protracted highway of hope combined with despair, every in their very own method. And we now have travelled down it with them, every of us in line with our personal historical past and sensibility. But the reality is that we bear collective duty for failing to construct a simply and lasting peace within the Middle East so far.
This was the actual fact that we had been confronted with on 7 October 2023, when the Israeli folks suffered the worst terrorist assault of their historical past. 1,224 males, girls and kids had been killed. 4834 males, girls and kids had been injured. 251 males, girls and kids had been kidnapped.
The barbarity of Hamas and people who collaborated in that bloodbath shocked Israel and the world. For the Israeli soul and the world’s conscience, 7 October is a wound that’s nonetheless uncooked. We unequivocally condemn it as a result of nothing, ever, anyplace can justify using terrorism. Today we consider the victims and their households. We provide our compassion to the Israelis and demand, initially, the unconditional launch of all hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza. We held a nationwide ceremony in France honouring the 51 French residents who had been murdered on that day, and all of the victims of seven October 2023. We won’t neglect them. Ever. Just as we are going to by no means finish the existential combat in opposition to anti-Semitism.
We, the French, understand how terrorism can chunk. We carry in our hearts the reminiscence of the gesture of brotherhood made by dozens of overseas leaders, the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority on the forefront, who took half within the march following the 7 January 2015 terrorist assaults in Paris.
We know that there may be no weak point within the face of terrorists.
We additionally know the hazards of countless wars. We know that the regulation should at all times prevail over power. Lastly, we all know from our historical past that the dedication to universality and to peace is a legacy from centuries previous and a prerequisite for salvation. I state this within the title of our friendship with Israel, a rustic to which we preserve an unfaltering dedication. And within the title of our friendship with the Palestinian folks, for whom we would like the United Nations’ preliminary promise, that of two States dwelling aspect by aspect in peace and safety, to grow to be a actuality.
Yet as we communicate, Israel remains to be increasing its army operations in Gaza with the acknowledged purpose of destroying Hamas. However, it’s the lives of the lots of of hundreds of displaced, wounded, ravenous and traumatized people who proceed to be destroyed – no matter the truth that Hamas has been weakened significantly and that negotiations for a long-lasting ceasefire stay the surest method of securing the hostages’ launch.
Nothing, nothing justifies persevering with the warfare in Gaza any longer. Nothing. On the opposite, every part requires the warfare to be delivered to a definitive finish now, for need of getting achieved so sooner. To save lives. The lives of Israeli hostages who’re nonetheless being detained in atrocious situations. The lives of lots of of hundreds of Palestinian civilians wracked by starvation, struggling, the worry of demise, and grief over their family members. To save all lives. Because for 2 years now, it’s the denial of each other’s humanity and the sacrifice of human life which have prevailed. Yes, since 7 October, what has been denied is each other’s lives.
We have been saying this since day one of many warfare in Gaza: all lives are equally priceless. I do know this as a result of I’ve embraced the households of hostages, in Tel Aviv and later in Paris. I’m considering of the mom of Evyatar David, the ravenous hostage displayed earlier than the crowds by his torturers. I’m considering of Nimrod Cohen, the nineteen-year-old hostage, whose father I simply greeted. I additionally know this from having gone to the bedside of Palestinian victims of Israeli army operations who sought refuge in El Arish. I’ll always remember the look I noticed within the eyes of these girls and kids. I’m considering of Rita Baroud, who ought to have been right here with us at the moment and who continues to report on the struggling of her family members in Gaza. All lives are equally priceless. And the responsibility that all of us have is to guard each other – an obligation that’s indivisible, identical to our humanity.
There is an answer that may break the cycle of warfare and destruction. It is by recognizing each other – each individual’s legitimacy, humanity and dignity. Let these on either side open their eyes once more and see human faces as a substitute of the enemy’s masks or a goal drawn over them by the warfare. It’s the popularity that Israelis and Palestinians dwell in a parallel solitude – the solitude of the Israelis following the historic nightmare of seven October 2023, and the solitude of the Palestinians, who’re fully exhausted by this countless warfare.
The time has come. Because the worst may but occur; whether or not it’s the lack of numerous extra civilian lives, the expulsion of the inhabitants of Gaza in the direction of Egypt, the annexation of the West Bank, the demise of the hostages held by Hamas, or irreversible occasions that change the state of affairs on the bottom ceaselessly. That is why… That is why we should, right here and now, pave this path in the direction of peace, as a result of since July, occasions have accelerated at a terrifying tempo. From the place we stand now, it’s to be feared that the Abraham Accords or the Camp David Accords may very well be referred to as into query by Israel’s motion and that peace within the Middle East may grow to be unattainable for a very long time to come back. And so we bear now a historic duty. We should do all we will to protect even the opportunity of a two-state resolution, with Israel and Palestine dwelling aspect by aspect, in peace and safety.
The time has come. That is why, true to my nation’s historic dedication within the Middle East, for peace between the Israeli folks and the Palestinian folks, I declare that France at the moment acknowledges the State of Palestine.
This recognition is a method of affirming that the Palestinian persons are not a folks too many. And that, quite the opposite, the Palestinians are a folks – as Mahmoud Darwich taught us – who by no means hand over on something. A folks happy with their historical past, of their roots, and of their dignity.
The recognition of the official rights of the Palestinian folks doesn’t subtract in any method from the rights of the Israeli folks. France has supported these rights from day one and is not any much less ardent a champion of them. Indeed, we’re satisfied that this recognition is the one resolution that may deliver peace to Israel. France has by no means failed Israel when its safety was in danger, together with within the face of Iranian strikes.
This recognition of the State of Palestine is a defeat for Hamas and for all those that incite anti-Semitic hatred, who feed anti-Zionist obsessions and want the destruction of the State of Israel.
France’s recognition is accompanied by additional recognitions that can even be introduced at the moment by Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, San Marino and the United Kingdom. I thank these States, who’ve waited with us for this second and, by answering the decision of July this 12 months, have made a alternative for duty, for rigour and for peace. This follows the selection made by Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain in 2024, and by many others earlier than.
This recognition paves the trail for negotiations for the good thing about Israelis and Palestinians alike.
This is the trail that was set out within the plan for peace and safety for all, which Saudi Arabia and France put to the vote of this Assembly, and which was adopted by a really giant majority. It displays our frequent ambition to interrupt the cycle of violence and to alter the state of affairs on the bottom. We have succeeded in taking a step nearer to 1 one other, in letting go of our conventional stances, and in agreeing on concrete objectives. It is now as much as us, collectively, to provoke a mechanism for peace that addresses the wants of all.
The first part of this plan for peace and safety for all is certainly one of absolute urgency, which is to pair the liberating of the 48 hostages with the top of army operations throughout all of Gaza. I commend the work achieved by Qatar, Egypt and the United States to provoke it, and ask Israel to cease something which may stop them from its success. Hamas has been defeated militarily by the elimination of its leaders and decision-makers. It should even be defeated politically to be actually dismantled. Once the ceasefire has been agreed, we should make a large effort collectively to supply help to the inhabitants of Gaza. I wish to thank Egypt and Jordan for his or her dedication right here, and remind Israel of its strict responsibility to facilitate humanitarian entry to Gaza to assist the inhabitants who at the moment have misplaced every part.
The second part would be the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. A transitional administration that features the Palestinian Authority, younger Palestinians and safety forces, whose coaching we are going to expedite, could have the monopoly of safety in Gaza. It will implement the dismantling and disarmament of Hamas, with the assist of worldwide companions and the sources required for this troublesome activity. France stands able to contribute to a world stabilization mission and assist, alongside its European companions, the coaching and equipping of Palestinian safety forces. As quickly as negotiations enable, the Security Council might resolve to deploy a civilian and safety assist mission, in liaison with the Palestinian authorities, with the consent of the Israeli authorities.
The State of Palestine can even have to provide new hope to its inhabitants, worn down by years of violence and occupation but additionally division and negligence. It will due to this fact have to supply its folks with a brand new and safe framework for democratic expression. President Mahmoud Abbas has made that dedication to Prince Mohammad bin Salman and to me. He has strongly condemned the terrorist assaults of seven October 2023. He has confirmed his assist for the disarmament of Hamas and has dedicated to excluding it from the longer term governance of Gaza and the complete Palestinian territory. He has asserted his dedication to preventing hate speech and has promised an intensive overhaul of Palestinian governance.
France will hold an in depth eye on the total implementation of every of the commitments made to it. This renewed Palestinian Authority is a prerequisite to the success of the important negotiations that should resume to succeed in an settlement on every of the questions referring to the definitive standing. It is inside this framework that I’ll determined to determine an embassy to the State of Palestine, as quickly as all of the hostages held in Gaza are launched and a ceasefire has been established.
France shall be no much less demanding concerning Israel. With its European companions, it can set its stage of cooperation with Israel based mostly on the measures Israel takes to finish the warfare and negotiate peace.
This would be the path that may lead us to a sovereign, unbiased and demilitarized State of Palestine that brings collectively all of its territories, acknowledges Israel, and is acknowledged by Israel, in a area that may ultimately dwell in peace.
I additionally name on these of our Arab and Muslim companions that haven’t already achieved so, to uphold their dedication to acknowledge the State of Israel and to normalize relations with the State of Israel as quickly because the State of Palestine is established. In this fashion, we are going to display mutual recognition which can additional peace and safety of all within the Middle East.
This, girls and gents, is our peace plan. It units out a demanding mechanism to exit the warfare and enter a decisive part of negotiation. With it, Israeli-Palestinian peace will grow to be the primary pillar of a brand new peace and safety structure within the Middle East. It additionally makes the opportunity of better financial integration extra credible.
Nothing shall be doable if the Israel authorities don’t take full possession of our renewed ambition to lastly obtain a two-state resolution. I perceive their reservations and their fears. I’m listening to the Israeli folks with nice respect and have heard their sorrow and fatigue, and I wish to imagine that the Israeli authorities can even pay attention and, in flip, commit themselves. I do know that the Israeli folks and their leaders can discover the energy to do that.
I keep in mind after I was only a younger man and realized of the tragic assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, almost 30 years in the past, who was killed for searching for peace. Right earlier than he died, this heroic warrior of the State of Israel pronounced these phrases: “I waged warfare so long as there was no probability for peace”. This probability exists at the moment. A complete of 142 States are proposing this peace with their palms held out, able to be shaken.
Yes, the time has come to cease the warfare in Gaza, the massacres, the demise, instantly. The urgency of the state of affairs calls for it. The time has come for Israel to dwell in peace and safety, from Galilee to the Red Sea, by the use of the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and Jerusalem. The time has come for the existence of a State of Israel to by no means be questioned anyplace in order that it turns into one thing that’s self-evident.
The time has come to ship justice to the Palestinian folks and thereby acknowledge a State of Palestine, a brother and neighbour, in Gaza and the West Bank, by the use of Jerusalem. The time has come to drive the hideous face of terrorism from these lands and construct peace. Yes, construct peace, that’s the reason we’re assembly right here at the moment. And that’s the hope that may be constructed. As some are starting a brand new 12 months, it’s a option to be made and it’s our responsibility. Peace is far more demanding, far more troublesome than any warfare.
But the time has come.
