After meeting with US President Donald Trump on September 23, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that he had been assured by the US that any Israeli effort to annex the West Bank would be a "red line" for the US.
Mr. Macron said that Israel's implementation of this plan would mean the end of the Abraham Agreement - a series of agreements regulating relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries signed in 2020, which was considered a major diplomatic achievement of Mr. Trump during his first term.
Mr. Macron said that he had given Mr. Trump a 3-page plan for the future of Palestine, based on the New York Declaration - a document supported by more than 143 countries, emphasizing that Hamas would be excluded from all future political structures in Gaza and the West Bank. The goal is to bring the US, Europe and the Arab countries in the same direction, Mr. Macron said.
As Israel is considering expanding settlements in the West Bank, including the E1 project with 3,400 new homes, Mr. Macron affirmed that Europe and the US share the same view of objection. He also emphasized, The United States is the only country that has enough real pressure on Israel.
If the US administration maintains its opposition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face great political pressure from far-right allies in the ruling coalition, which have urged the complete or partial absorption of the West Bank. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House this week and address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26.
Mr. Macron emphasized that the immediate goal of the plan is to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the release of all hostages. He said he had directly called on Mr. Trump: "You have a big role and you want to see peace in the world".
Meanwhile, US special missionary Steve Witkoff revealed that Mr. Trump also presented a 21-point plan to Arabian and Islamic leaders at a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. We hope, even believe, that there will be a breakthrough in the next few days, Witkoff said.
President Macron's statements are considered the clearest signal showing that diplomatic efforts are taking place silently to shape the " post-war scenario" in Gaza, as well as to avoid the risk of merging the West Bank completely destroying the prospects for a two-state solution.
