Key Facts
• On November 11, Palestinian President Abbas met French President Macron in Paris.
• France recognized Palestine as a state in September 2025.
• This was Abbas’s first visit to France for a summit since the recognition.
• Both leaders agreed to create a “Joint Committee” to draft a Palestinian constitution.
• Macron emphasized the need for presidential and parliamentary elections in Palestine.
• Abbas expressed his commitment to holding elections.
• Abbas stated in a prior interview that Hamas would not have a governing role in Gaza.
Summary
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and French President Emmanuel Macron held a summit in Paris on November 11, 2025, marking Abbas’s first visit since France’s recognition of Palestine as a state in September. The leaders announced the establishment of a “Joint Committee” to draft a constitution for Palestine, a significant step toward state-building. Macron stressed the importance of conducting presidential and parliamentary elections in Palestine, while Abbas committed to pursuing this goal. In a prior interview, Abbas clarified that Hamas would not play a governing role in Gaza. This meeting underscores France’s active role in supporting Palestinian statehood and governance reforms.
