Macron: Any planned annexation of the West Bank is a 'red line', we will help draft a new Palestinian constitution

(Patria) - French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Tuesday that any Israeli plan to annex the West Bank would be a "red line" and would provoke a European reaction, AFP reported.

He said this during a visit to Paris by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a month after the start of a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, after two years of war triggered by the militant group's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Abbas (89) is the long-time head of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank occupied by Israel, and the possibility of taking over administration in Gaza under an agreement is being considered.

Macron, whose country recognized a Palestinian state in September, warned against any Israeli plans to annex the West Bank following an increase in violence in the Palestinian territory.

"Plans for partial or full annexation, whether legal or de facto, represent a red line to which we will respond strongly with our European partners," Macron said at a joint press conference with Abbas.
"Settler violence and the acceleration of settlement projects are reaching new heights, threatening the stability of the West Bank and constitute a violation of international law," said the French president.

Violence in the West Bank has increased since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023. At least 1,002 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since then. In the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in the West Bank.

Constitutional Committee

Following a meeting where they discussed the next steps after the ceasefire in Gaza, Macron and Abbas announced the creation of a joint committee "to consolidate the state of Palestine," said the French leader. This will "contribute to the drafting of a new constitution, a draft of which President Abbas presented to me".

Abbas renewed his commitment to "reforms", including "holding presidential and parliamentary elections after the end of the war".

"We are finalizing the draft of the interim constitution of the State of Palestine and the law on elections and political parties," he added.

According to US President Donald Trump's twenty-point peace plan, international security forces composed of Arab and Muslim allies would stabilize Gaza while Israeli troops withdraw, and a transitional authority would take over administration of the territory from Hamas until the Palestinian Authority implements reforms.

Trump said last week that he expects the International Stabilization Force tasked with monitoring the ceasefire to be in Gaza "very soon".

Last month's ceasefire has been tested by new Israeli attacks and claims of Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers.

Hamas's attack in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians. In retaliation, the Israeli army has since killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians.