France should recognise a Palestinian state in order to “appease” Muslim voters, the country’s Interior Ministry has advised.
In an official report covering Islamic politics in French society, the ministry suggested that there was an impression among French Muslims that the government was unduly favourable to Israel.
It said: “We conducted interviews regarding the climate of tension between the Jewish and Muslim communities following October 7, 2023.
"They provided evidence of a profound malaise among the latter, who perceived the French position as overtly favourable to Israel in line with ‘state Islamophobia’ by supporting Israeli Jews over Palestinian Muslims.
"In countering this narrative and, independently, reaffirming...that Muslim culture is equal to others and that the Republic guarantees free exercise and free practice (of religion), the recognition by France of a Palestinian state...could appease these frustrations.”
President Macron had already announced his intention to recognise a Palestinian state, with an international conference hosted jointly with Saudi Arabia in New York reported to be the target date.
A French diplomatic source told Jewish Insider earlier this week: “ [France is] determined to recognise the state of Palestine to create the conditions for the existence of this state.
"Our goal for this conference indeed goes beyond the question of recognition. It is indeed about recreating an international consensus around the two-state solution, which allows for a lasting resolution to the conflict.”
Elsewhere, the report covered the surge in what it termed “political Islam” and warned of the “imminent threat” posed by the Muslim Brotherhood – which is estimated to have over 100,000 member in the country.
The ministry recounted several examples of antisemitic material distributed by those affiliated with the brotherhood, which runs large numbers of mosques, schools and community centres in France.
However, Michel Gurfinkiel, a French conservative analyst, told Jewish Insider: “The main point of the report is not what it says about the Muslim Brotherhood. The real point is the conclusion that the French government should make efforts to bring French Muslims into the French fold, and that means… to recognise a state of Palestine.
"There is a kind of interplay. The interior minister wanted to publish the report in order to give legitimacy to his own policy against Islamism in France. But it was published with the approval of President Macron… and obviously, the real goal of the president was to tell everybody, ‘I must recognise a State of Palestine because it is the only way for us to fight the Muslim Brotherhood’.”
Gurfinkiel suggested that this could be part of a strategy for Macron to return for a third term in 2032 (the president can only serve two terms consecutively), for which he would need to rely on the growing Muslim vote.
He added: “He wants French Muslims to see him as the champion of their cause, and to be a champion of the Muslim cause means you support Palestine.
"Palestine is a code word for Muslim power in France, just like the right is extremely pro-Israel as a metaphor” against growing Islamism.”
