Macron's Plea for Palestinian State Sparks Fierce Israeli Rebuttal

Macron's call for a Palestinian state draws sharp rebuke from Israel. During an official visit to Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron used the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum to advocate for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state. He stressed that this wasn't simply a moral imperative but a political necessity, urging European nations to adopt a firmer stance against Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates further. Macron's words were met with swift and pointed opposition from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who, while visiting a Jewish settlement in the northern West Bank, declared Israel's intent to establish a Jewish state on Palestinian land. "They will recognize a Palestinian state on paper, and we will build the Israeli Jewish state here on the ground," Katz stated, directly addressing Macron's remarks. This exchange underscores the significant and entrenched divisions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges in finding a peaceful resolution.