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An experts' report, commissioned by the French Ministry of Interior, recommended that France formally recognize the state of Palestine in order to “appease” Muslim voters and calm internal tensions, as part of a broader report on the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence and political Islamism in French society, which was published in May.

The French Ministry of Interior clarified to The Jerusalem Post that while the ministry made every element of the report, including the topic of Palestinian state recognition, public for all to see, it is not the ministry's position that a Palestinian state should be recognized at this time.

In fact, it noted that the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Daniel Marie Paul Retailleau, doesn't believe the current conditions are suitable for the recognition of a Palestinian state, and to do so now would be giving "a victory to Hamas."

Notably, any recommendation of a Palestinian state was towards the end of the report, which focused largely on the Muslim Brotherhood's history in France, it's influence, and further recommendations to address it.

The recommendation, under a section of the report titled “Understand the aspirations of the Muslim population and send them strong messages,” suggested that recognizing Palestine as a state could help ease tensions, signaling support for Palestinians and Muslims in general, while reaffirming France’s commitment to equality and religious freedom for all.

Many in the Muslim community feel that the French government is overly sympathetic to Israel, which they perceive as contributing to their sense of alienation, the report noted. Some argue that France’s position reflects a form of “state Islamophobia,” with the government seen as supporting Israeli Jews over Palestinian Muslims.

The report stated that the recognition could also serve as a symbolic gesture aimed at bridging the growing divide between France’s Jewish and Muslim communities.

The proposal for recognition comes as France continues to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In June, France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair an international conference aimed at advancing peace efforts.

French officials have emphasized that the focus of the June conference will be on creating a shared international vision for the future, which includes disarming Hamas, securing the release of the hostages, and reforming the Palestinian Authority.

One senior French official told The Jerusalem Post that “The primary goal of the document expected to emerge from the June conference is to formulate a broadly shared international vision... The conference is not centered on recognizing a Palestinian state.”

Despite these reassurances, skepticism persists. Israeli officials have expressed concerns that France may quietly move toward recognizing a Palestinian state behind the scenes.

French internal pressures and rising discontent among Muslim community

French President Emmanuel Macron fueled speculation last month when he hinted that France could officially recognize Palestine in the coming months. This prompted a sharp response from Israeli and US officials.

In Israel, the comment was interpreted as part of a broader campaign against the country. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized Macron’s stance, suggesting that if France were so determined to see a Palestinian state, it might consider offering part of the French Riviera as a solution.

While the official stance remains that the conference’s primary focus is on broader issues of peace and security, the prospect of recognizing Palestine looms large.