French Recognition of Palestinian State Influenced by Activist Ofer Bronchtein
French President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state during his September speech to the United Nations General Assembly followed advisory input from Israeli-French peace activist Ofer Bronchtein. Bronchtein, present at the assembly, noted the subsequent applause from attendees and the walkout of the Israeli delegation.
He has stated his belief that recognizing a Palestinian state is not a reward for groups not seeking peaceful coexistence. Bronchtein asserts that the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state before October 7, 2023, could have prevented subsequent events.
Bronchtein's Advisory Role
Ofer Bronchtein, 68, has advocated for a Palestinian state alongside Israel to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has served as an informal adviser to President Macron in recent years, promoting France's leadership in the peace process.
Bronchtein initially met Macron in 2019. Their relationship developed during a 2020 presidential visit to Jerusalem, where Bronchtein served as a Hebrew interpreter. During this trip, Bronchtein recounted that Macron expressed a desire for him to contribute to Middle East peace efforts.
As president of the nonprofit International Forum for Peace, Bronchtein provides unpaid consultation to President Macron. He maintains direct communication with the president, offering ideas and reactions to regional developments. Macron's initial mission for Bronchtein involved identifying strategies to foster cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis. Bronchtein's suggestions included Arab states normalizing relations with Israel and Israel recognizing a sovereign Palestinian state, with France leading statehood recognition when deemed appropriate.
Background and Activism
Bronchtein holds French, Israeli, and Palestinian passports. He was born in Beersheba, Israel, in 1957. His family relocated to Paris in 1966. He returned to Israel in 1975 and began advocating for social justice and reconciliation between Israelis and Arabs.
In 1987, Bronchtein met with Mahmoud Abbas, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in Spain. This contact violated an Israeli ban on communications with PLO representatives at the time, resulting in Bronchtein serving 15 days in Israeli prison. Later, he served as an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin during the negotiations for the 1990s Oslo Accords, which outlined plans for a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Following the Oslo Accords, Bronchtein experienced a period of increased freedom of movement and interaction between Israelis and Palestinians. However, optimism decreased after Prime Minister Rabin's assassination in 1995 and the start of the Second Intifada in 2000. Bronchtein and his family subsequently moved to France.
Continued Engagement and Current Stance
In 2002, Bronchtein co-founded the International Forum for Peace with Palestinian partner Anis al-Qaq to promote dialogue. John Lyndon, executive director of Alliance for Middle East Peace, has described Bronchtein as effective in integrating civil society perspectives into governmental discussions.
Palestinian Authority President Abbas granted Bronchtein a Palestinian passport in 2011. Bronchtein has criticized Israel's occupation of the West Bank, citing its impact on Palestinians and its contradiction with Jewish values. He has reported receiving threats related to his activism.
Regarding recent violence, Bronchtein stated that he feels shame concerning the destruction in Gaza and has called for mutual forgiveness between Israelis and Palestinians for actions related to the conflict. He believes current circumstances present an opportunity for change, asserting that lasting peace requires Palestinian self-determination and that ideologies cannot be overcome through violence alone.
France's diplomatic initiative at the U.N. was coordinated with Saudi Arabia, contributing to renewed calls for a two-state solution. Bronchtein and other analysts believe this move influenced subsequent peace plans. He advocates for a new narrative of future partnership between Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing respect for each side's history, identity, and experiences.