Palestinian flags fly over French town halls as municipalities defy a government ban ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s planned recognition of a Palestinian state. Photo: Screenshot

More than 50 municipalities across France defied an Interior Ministry order on Monday, raising Palestinian flags on their facades ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement recognizing a Palestinian state later in the day.

The contentious gesture came after Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure urged mayors last week to raise Palestinian flags over town halls in support of Macron’s initiative and opposition to the war in Gaza.

However, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau asked mayors not to follow through with such gestures, citing the principle of neutrality in public services and warning that these violations would be referred to administrative courts.

“There are enough divisive issues in the country without importing the conflict in the Middle East,” the French official wrote in a post on X.

Several French town halls have been forced to take down Palestinian flags following court rulings.

En ce jour historique, j’étais présent ce matin aux côtés du maire @MathieuHanotin et @faureolivier à #SaintDenis pour hisser le drapeau Palestinien au fronton de la mairie.#Palestine #ONU pic.twitter.com/4Nimsz1NGZ

— Stephane Peu (@stephane1peu) September 22, 2025

On Monday, Macron announced France’s recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, joining other Western countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” Macron said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the UN. “The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel.”

Macron outlined a plan for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a Gaza ceasefire, and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in the enclave.

Yet, a majority of the French people oppose an immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, with 71 percent rejecting any recognition before the release of all remaining Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and the surrender of Hamas, according to a newly released survey.

On Friday, 20 French Jewish leaders issued a joint letter to Macron urging him to recognize a Palestinian state only after the release of all remaining hostages and the dismantling of Hamas, warning that any other approach would be “capitulation in the face of terrorism.”

“While France has prudently refrained from any recognition of a Palestinian state since 1948, pending the establishment of conditions for peace and mutual security, how can it justify doing so while the war triggered by the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust is still raging?” the letter said.

“Recognition … before the fulfillment of the conditions you have set out would be claimed as a symbolic victory for Hamas, which would only worsen the murderous stranglehold it imposes on the Palestinians,” it continued.

Other Western countries have argued that recognizing a Palestinian state now would be premature. Germany, for example, has said it will recognize Palestinian statehood only “at the end of the process” of a negotiated two-state solution.

“For Germany, recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of the process. But this process must begin now,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday.

“A negotiated two-state solution is the path that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity,” he continued.

Italy has also announced that it will not recognize a Palestinian state at this time.

Supporters of the recognition argue that this move would actually undermine Hamas’s control, noting that the terrorist group has never supported a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and would likely oppose a Palestinian state since it would have no governing role.

However, Hamas has repeatedly praised such plans to recognize a Palestinian state as “the fruits of Oct. 7,” citing the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as the reason for increasing Western support.

Israeli and US officials have strongly opposed recognizing a Palestinian state, warning that such a move would only reward terrorism, hinder Gaza ceasefire negotiations, and embolden Hamas.

According to Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, this initiative by several Western countries overlooks Israeli public sentiment, which he says dooms the plan before it begins.

“Without Israelis believing a Palestinian state makes them more secure, this proposal is performative and delusional,” Satloff wrote in a post on X.

“And since Israel’s hostages will still be held under Gaza when all these diplomatic big-wigs leave New York, [Macron’s] plan will only invite ridicule and disgust among Israelis, making the idea of statehood more distant than ever,” he continued.

The key missing actor that makes this a fool’s errand is not @POTUS or @netanyahu but #Israel public opinion. Without Israelis believing a #Palestinian state makes them more secure, this proposal is performative and delusional. And since Israel’s hostages will still be held under…

— Robert Satloff (@robsatloff) September 20, 2025

Jewish groups in Britain, Australia, Canada, and France have criticized their governments’ recognition of a Palestinian state, warning that such moves would embolden extremists and fail to advance peace.

The Australian Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision, calling it a reward for the Oct. 7 atrocities.

“This move emboldens Hamas, undermines peace efforts, prolongs the suffering of Palestinians under Hamas rule, and fuels global incitement against the Jewish people,” CIJA CEO Noah Shack wrote in a post on X.

“The government’s policy should be clear-eyed and focused on releasing the Israeli hostages, securing a ceasefire, and the removal of Hamas from power,” Shack added.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews strongly condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision, noting serious concerns within the local Jewish community.

“As we feared and warned, the way the UK has chosen to recognize a Palestinian state has done nothing to advance a ceasefire, free the hostages, stop the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, or advance long-term peace,” the statement read.

The Board of Deputies’ response to the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state pic.twitter.com/lLnDUO5FZX

— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) September 21, 2025

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision, accusing him of departing from the long-standing policy of a negotiated two-state solution by taking a unilateral step.

“Unilateral recognition removes any incentive for the Palestinians to reform or return to negotiations,” ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said in a statement.

“If Australia wants to help, it should support Palestinians to reform and build their institutions, the foundations of any viable Palestinian state. That is how we should contribute to real peace, not by emboldening terrorists through empty symbolism,” Cassuto continued.

Tucker Carlson speaks on July 18, 2024, during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY via Reuters Connect

At the memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday, Tucker Carlson — the former Fox News host-turned-far-right conspiracy theorist podcaster — appeared to advance two antisemitic ideas at once, both blaming the Jewish people for the crucifixion of Jesus and further amplifying his previous suggestions alleging Israeli involvement in the slaying of one of the world’s leading Christian Zionist voices.

In the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Carlson said during his speech that Kirk’s murder “actually reminds me of my favorite story ever,” before proceeding to offer his own spin on a medieval passion play.

“So, it’s about 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem, and Jesus shows up and he starts talking about the people in power. And he starts doing the worst thing that you can do, which is telling the truth about people. And they hate it, and they just go bonkers,” Carlson said. “They hate it, and they become obsessed with making him stop. ‘This guy’s got to stop talking. We’ve got to shut this guy up.’”

Carlson continued his story before the crowd of mourners, describing how “I can just sort of picture the scene in a lamplit room with a bunch of guys sitting around and eating hummus, thinking about what do we do about this guy telling the truth about us. ‘We must make him stop talking.’ And there’s always one guy with the bright idea, and I can hear him say, ‘I’ve got an idea: Why don’t we just kill him? That’ll shut him up. That’ll fix the problem.’”

Carlson then burst out laughing before adding, “It doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t work that way. Everything is inverted.”

Tucker Carlson decided to try hint at the Charlie Kirk memorial that Charlie Kirk was killed by “hummus eaters in Jerusalem” – the same people who killed Christ in his words

pic.twitter.com/p7GqLUbUYk

— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) September 21, 2025

US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — who has recently taken up popular leftist talking points falsely accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza — praised the speech, posting on the X social media platform that “Tucker Carlson just gave the best speech that was centered on what being a Christian is. It’s about Jesus and it starts with faith and repentance and it changes us. Which leads us to God. Thank you Tucker.”

The Quds News Network, a Palestinian news agency, also boosted Carlson’s comments, writing, “Tucker Carlson suggests Israeli involvement in Charlie Kirk’s death during TPUSA’s [Turning Point USA’s] memorial for its late founder.”

David Friedman, who served as US ambassador to Israel in President Donald Trump’s first term, called the speech “antisemitic innuendo,” adding that such comments were “never appropriate, but even less so at a memorial service for a great man.” Friedman later wrote that the memorial “was not about him” and that the very debate over Carlson’s remarks underscored how out of place they were.

Ryan Saavedra, a reporter for the Daily Wire, accused Carlson of being unable to “contain his hatred for Jews for even just a few minutes,” noting that the attack on Jewish people was one of the first themes Carlson raised in his tribute.

Other commentators also condemned the insinuations. Matthew Schmitz, editor of the conservative Compact magazine, summarized Carlson’s pattern: “Once again, Tucker Carlson finds a way to insinuate that Charlie Kirk’s murder had something to do with Jews. No matter what happens, someone, somewhere will find a way to blame it on Jews.”

Richard Goldberg, a former Trump administration official and senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), sees danger for the Republican Party should Carlson continue as a dominant thought leader.

“Tucker’s unhealthy obsession with Jews and Israel is a disease that is poisoning the Republican Party,” Goldberg wrote on X. “While I am not surprised by his decision to use Charlie Kirk’s assassination as a platform to spread this disease – indeed, he is a disciplined strategic communicator – I am surprised by how few conservatives have the backbone to stand up and say they will no longer platform him.”

Goldberg said Carlson “has a freedom of speech” but that “we have a freedom of association.” He argued “this is about the future of American conservatives. We cannot make the same mistake many Democrats did with people whispering to each other, ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a small minority, it’ll go away.’ I don’t know what the motivation is – Qatari money, click-bait, personal animosity related to past employment problems, or something else. What I do know is that it’s toxic, it is 180 degrees from President Trump and it needs to be met with a decision by those we call ‘leaders’ to stop platforming him (and those who echo such vile sentiments).”

Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, went even further, posting on X that “Tucker Carlson is a modern-day Neo-Nazi. What a disgusting and loathsome human being. To use Charlie Kirk’s funeral to launch into an unhinged, antisemitic, conspiracy theory tirade, is an unconscionable defilement of Charlie’s memory and everything he stood for!”

FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz wrote that “Tucker Carlson used the memorial for Charlie Kirk — a passionate friend of Israel & the Jewish people — to spread antisemitic blood libels. I knew his father, Richard Carlson, Vice-Chair at FDD who strongly supported Jews & Israel. I just can’t fathom what happened to Tucker.”

Carlson’s comments come amid an eruption of conspiracy theories following Kirk’s assassination. As The Algemeiner reported last week, Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal, a pro-Iran commentator, alleged that Kirk had been pressured over his pro-Israel views by billionaire investor Bill Ackman and other advocates. Those claims, denied by all involved, were amplified by Carlson, podcaster Candace Owens, who has become a prolific promoter of antisemitic conspiracy theories, and Greene, who cast Kirk as a “Christian martyr” targeted by Jewish influence.

Kirk’s producer, Andrew Kolvet, and Ackman both dismissed the allegations as false, stressing that Kirk maintained cordial relations with pro-Israel figures and that discussions at a recent gathering were wide-ranging and friendly. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah with the killing, citing his animosity toward Kirk’s positions on LGBTQ issues as the motive. Law enforcement has not presented any evidence linking Israel or Jewish groups to the crime.

Actress Patricia Heaton, who has emerged as an engaged pro-Israel advocate in recent years, echoed Goldberg’s call for conservatives to cull Carlson from the ranks of the respectable.

“I beg conservatives, especially podcasters, to stop giving Tucker Carlson any exposure,” Heaton wrote on X. “Stop going on his show. There’s something really wrong with him. My Spidey-sense was triggered the first time I ever heard him and his creepy laugh.”

Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and the new CEO of his organization Turning Point USA, expressed forgiveness for Robinson during her speech at the memorial.

“That man, that young man … I forgive him,” she said. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do … The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, April 10, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard

Trump administration officials and lawmakers in the US Congress are largely lambasting the decision by allies the UK, Canada, Portugal, and Australia to recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, saying that the declarations reward terrorism and serve as a setback for peace negotiations in the Middle East.

“Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures,” a US State Department spokesperson told AFP. “Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has similarly repudiated the decision as “reckless,” arguing it will only make peace a more distant prospect.

“We warned them that we thought that was counterproductive.  We actually think it’s undermined negotiations, because it emboldened Hamas, and we think it undermines future prospects of peace in the region,” Rubio told reporters while traveling to Israel last week. “Right now, we’re focused on how we can end what’s happening in Gaza. How can we end Hamas, how can we get the hostages freed, and how can we create a framework so that the people of Gaza can have a much better life than they ever had under Hamas? That’s what the president wants and that’s what we’re going to continue to work on.”

US President Donald Trump “disagrees” with the countries that officially recognized a Palestinian state and “believes it is a reward to Hamas,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said on Monday that Trump views the move as “just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies” and “feels this does not do anything to release the hostages” in Gaza and “does nothing to end this conflict and bring this war to a close.”

On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, US lawmakers expressed similar criticism of the decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

“Recognition of a ‘State of Palestine’ is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) said in a statement. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) echoed these sentiments, rebuking Western allies for “rewarding” Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, mass slaughter of 1,200 people and kidnapping of 251 hostages across southern Israel.

“To those Western leaders who embrace this, I do not believe you are antisemitic, just shockingly ignorant and blind to what you are doing,” Graham said. 

“Western Democracies recognizing a mythical Palestinian state – one without leaders, one without borders, one without a capital, and one without accommodations for Israel’s security – is truly rewarding the largest slaughter of Jews since World War II,” he continued. 

In a landmark shift on Sunday during the United Nations General Assembly, the UK, Canada, Portugal and Australia formally recognized a “State of Palestine,” breaking with decades of Western diplomatic hesitation and signaling deepening frustration with Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The coordinated declarations were presented as a move to revive the two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to affirm what they described as Palestinian rights to self-determination.

Israel condemned the decisions as rewarding Hamas and warned they could further undermine peace prospects. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted the countries for “giving a huge reward” to the terrorist group.

“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the terrible massacre on Oct. 7th, 2023: You are giving a huge reward to terrorism,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hamas leaders reacted joyously to the news.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official, called the declarations “a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause.”