After announcing that Paris would formally recognise Palestine as an independent state later this month at an international conference, the Élysée now seems to be backpedalling under pressure from Tel Aviv and Israel's allies.

While Brussels announced on 20 May a review of the EU's Association Agreement with Tel Aviv, the French diplomatic offensive is far from unanimous on the continent.

Only 12 EU members recognise Palestine as an independent state. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasised on 5 June that such a recognition of Palestine would send a "bad signal" during a press conference with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar.