The French authorities are engaged in discussions about the possibility of recognizing Palestine's independence, and have made "significant progress" on the matter.
Report informs via Le Monde that the former Israeli Ambassador to France, Eli Barnavi, stated that his attempts to persuade the administration of French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize Palestine as a state have been "unsuccessful."
However, a source within the publication indicated that French officials have "advanced" in their deliberations on the issue, despite the President's statements that the "right moment" for such a decision has not yet arrived.
In a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 29, Macron urged him to "implement necessary reforms." The French President's administration expressed a desire to "establish positive dynamics" regarding the recognition of Palestine.
Le Monde reports that before officially recognizing Palestine's independence, Paris will intensify consultations on the Middle East peace process based on the two-state solution principle. Currently, more than 140 out of 193 UN member states recognize Palestine's statehood.