French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the establishment of a collaborative panel with the Palestinian Authority aimed at creating a new constitution for Palestine. This announcement followed his recent meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris.
During the discussions, Macron stated, “We decided together to establish a joint committee for the consolidation of the state of Palestine,” highlighting the committee’s role in developing a new constitution. He noted that President Abbas had presented a draft of the proposed constitution during their talks.
Urgency for constitutional reform
President Abbas expressed his agreement to the prompt formation of the constitutional committee, emphasizing the importance of reforming the governing body. This reform is deemed crucial for establishing a “democratic and sovereign Palestinian state, living in peace and security alongside Israel,” according to a statement from the president’s office prior to their meeting.
The timing of this meeting is particularly significant, occurring a month into a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States between Israel and Hamas, following two years of intense conflict in Gaza. This conflict ignited after a militant group incursion into southern Israel in 2023. Additionally, the meeting comes shortly after France joined several other western European nations in officially recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Dialogue on annexation and security
Abbas, who has led the Palestinian Authority for two decades, oversees a body with limited control over portions of the occupied West Bank. There are ongoing discussions regarding the Authority potentially assuming governance of Gaza as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Macron and Abbas also deliberated on Israeli plans for the full annexation of the West Bank, which Macron deemed a “red line” for France. He asserted, “Plans for partial or total annexation, whether legal or de facto, constitute a red line to which we will respond strongly with our European partners.” Macron noted that the escalating violence from settlers and the rapid development of settlement projects are jeopardizing the stability of the West Bank and violate international law.
The ceasefire, brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect on October 10 but has faced challenges with ongoing Israeli air strikes and reported Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers. Trump indicated last week that he anticipates an International Stabilisation Force will be deployed to monitor the ceasefire in Gaza “very soon.”
“The violence of the settlers and the acceleration of settlement projects are reaching new heights, threatening the stability of the West Bank and constitute violations of international law.”
The meeting has sparked controversy in Israel, with the Israeli embassy in Paris accusing Abbas of “manipulating France.” In a post on X, the embassy criticized Abbas as a “Holocaust denier” whose approval rating among Palestinians is reportedly “less than 15%”. Furthermore, the statement alleged that the Palestinian Authority misuses funds from France and other European nations to support Abbas’ extravagant lifestyle and perpetuate a ‘Pay for Slay’ scheme for terrorists.