France is poised to take a major diplomatic step at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Monday, formally recognizing the State of Palestine.
The move is expected to deepen tensions with Israel, whose forces have now entered Gaza City in what many describe as the deadliest phase of the conflict with Hamas. French President Emmanuel Macron Friday announced on social media that he had spoken with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the same day, when he reiterated that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine on Monday.
The recognition of a Palestinian state is the best way to isolate Hamas, Macron said in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 released Thursday.
France's plan backs a demilitarized Palestinian state under a reformed and strengthened Palestinian Authority, with Arab and EU support.
Residents in France expressed a stance similar to that of their government.
"I would never defend Hamas -- they threw gay people from rooftops, they were killed, tortured. The people of Gaza have suffered under this terrorist organization," said Marcel, a French resident.
"We can't allow a genocide, and we can't let inequality continue," said Perrine, another resident.
France to formally recognize State of Palestine
The "soft landing" of the China-EU electric vehicle case will greatly boost market confidence and inject new momentum into China-EU cooperation in automobile trade and investment, a spokeswoman of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
He Yongqian, the spokeswoman, made the remarks after China and the European Union (EU) agreed on the necessity of providing general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese companies exporting battery electric vehicle (BEV) passenger cars to the EU.
"China and the EU simultaneously announced on Monday that they had achieved positive outcomes following multiple rounds of consultations on the EV case, a development that has drawn wide attention at home and abroad. Industry players from both sides have 'highly welcomed and fully endorsed' the outcome, saying the 'soft landing' of the case is expected to greatly boost market confidence and inject new momentum into China-EU cooperation in automobile trade and investment. Some EU politicians have described it as a positive step toward building a sustainable China-EU trade relationship, and said it demonstrated that resolving trade differences through partnership remains feasible," she said.
"Against the current international backdrop, China and the EU, acting in a spirit of mutual respect and within the framework of WTO rules, have properly addressed the EV case, which is of significant positive importance. The outcome will not only contribute to the sound development of China-EU economic and trade ties and help safeguard the stability of the global automotive industrial and supply chains, but will also send a clear and strong signal that both sides are willing to uphold a rules-based international trading order, setting a good example for countries to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation and injecting greater certainty and positive energy into global economic growth," she said.
"China appreciates the spirit of dialogue showed by the EU side and stands ready to work with the EU, building on the current positive outcomes, to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two sides, maintain dialogue and communication, and support stable industrial and supply chains on both sides, continue to deepen cooperation on the basis of market principles, and make active contributions to the global green transition," she added.
"Soft landing" of China-EU EV case to significantly boost market confidence: MOC spokeswoman
"Soft landing" of China-EU EV case to significantly boost market confidence: MOC spokeswoman
