US Ambassador to Israel: France's Call for Palestinian State 'Inappropriate'

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attacked France, describing its call for a Palestinian state as "inappropriate," suggesting it should be established on French soil.

This came during his Saturday evening interview with the American Fox News network regarding the French initiative to establish a Palestinian state.

"When I heard that the French were trying to lead this effort, to hold a discussion at the UN, supposedly with the goal of recognizing a Palestinian state, this is, first and foremost, completely inappropriate," Huckabee said.

He added: "In the midst of a war facing Israel, coming up with such a proposal - which I believe a growing number of Israelis strongly oppose - is inappropriate."

"October 7th changed a lot of things," Huckabee said.

He continued, saying: "If France is really that determined to establish a Palestinian state, I have a proposal for them: Carve out a part of the French Riviera (located in southeastern France) and establish a Palestinian state there."

He continued, "They are welcome to do so, but they are not welcome to impose this kind of pressure on a sovereign state," referring to Israel.

He considered that for him, "it is provocative that they (the French) think they have the right to do something like this," he said.

Huckabee said he hoped Paris would reconsider its efforts to establish a Palestinian state, adding, "The United States will not cooperate with this matter" and will not participate in what he called a "conspiracy."

On Friday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry attacked French President Emmanuel Macron following his statements during his visit to Singapore.

"President Macron's crusade against the Jewish state continues," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a post on the X platform.

On Friday, Macron said that recognizing the State of Palestine is a "moral duty." He also announced last April that Paris might recognize the State of Palestine during the international conference on the "two-state solution" in New York in mid-June.

In a speech delivered at the Asia Security and Defense Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue Forum in Singapore, he added that in order for a Palestinian state to be recognized, conditions must be met, such as "recognizing Israel and its right to live in security, disarming Hamas, not participating in the Palestinian government, and releasing prisoners."

A high-level international conference on the two-state solution will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from June 17 to 20, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

In May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly, at its tenth special session, voted in favor of a draft resolution supporting Palestine's application for full membership in the United Nations.

149 out of 193 UN member states recognize Palestine.