France Plans Palestinian State Recognition Amid Diplomatic Backlash

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has strongly criticized France's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood, comparing it to allowing Nazi Germany a victory after World War II and warning it will embolden Hamas. He argued this move sets back peace efforts and Israeli-Palestinian talks, suggesting that France's announcement derailed progress on sensitive issues like Israeli tax revenue withheld from the Palestinian Authority. Huckabee also dismissed the prospect of a two-state solution and urged European countries to instead accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom are poised to recognize Palestinian statehood unless Israel takes steps toward a ceasefire, a position supported by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who emphasized Palestinian statehood as a right under international law. Huckabee's comments, including repeated Nazi analogies, have drawn criticism for their extremity and have been part of a broader U.S. rejection of unilateral recognition efforts amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.