Paris, France – Official data on the European Commission’s website shows the French consulate in Jerusalem is now officially registered as “Palestine.” This is despite its location in the western part of the city, far from the Green Line and East Jerusalem.
This change came after France officially recognized the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly meetings. The address now reads: “5 Paul-Émile Botta Street, Palestine,” near the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
France preceded Britain in taking a similar step. It listed its embassy in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood as “Palestine” on its official maps. This is an indication of growing European harmony toward recognizing Palestinian rights.
This step coincided with the UN conference in New York on the two-state solution. During the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the need to stop the war in Gaza and release prisoners held by Hamas. He believed that recognizing a Palestinian state would support peace and limit Hamas’s influence.
The Israeli press viewed these European moves as an indication of a gradual shift in the European Union’s foreign policy. This shift is increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel.
Macron also criticized Israeli policies in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is not taking the issue of detainees seriously.” He expressed his rejection of any Israeli measures to close the French consulate in Jerusalem. He considered some of the security measures in the West Bank “lacking real justification.”
Macron concluded by affirming France’s unwavering support for the two-state solution. He also rejected any unilateral steps that could undermine the prospects for peace in the Middle East.
