Applause rang out, celebrating a "historic" decision of which the actual impact remains uncertain. "Today, France recognizes the State of Palestine," declared Emmanuel Macron on Monday, September 22, inside the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. With those words, the French president fulfilled the promise he had made over the summer, hoping to salvage what can be saveed of the "two-state solution," even as Israel is doing everything it can to eliminate the prospect of a Palestinian state one day existing alongside it.

Macron seemed to relish in the moment. No sooner had he arrived at the UN headquarters than he was mingling with the assembled heads of state, including King Abdullah II of Jordan and Syria's new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, all eager to witness a step none of Macron's predecessors at the Elysée had ever taken. He took the podium to chair a conference on the two-state solution co-organized with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unexpectedly chose not to speak, not even by videolink, leaving Macron all the more in the spotlight.

The president's speech was the climax of a broad movement for recognition sparked by his initiative in recent months. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described it as a "great victory" for France. Luxembourg, Andorra, Monaco, Malta and San Marino followed suit. So did Belgium, although with conditions. Denmark indicated it was open to the idea. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal had recognized Palestine the day before.

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