France   said now is not the “perceptible time ” to join its European Union neighbors Ireland and Spain in recognizing the Palestinian state.

The country’s Foreign Minister, Stephane Séjourne, stressed that his government’s “position is clear” that recognition of the Palestinian state is “not a taboo” for France. His remarks came after Ireland, Spain and Norway announced their plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state on May 28.

“This decision must be useful, in other words, it must allow decisive progress on the political front”, said Séjourne in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this Wednesday (22).

“France does not consider that the conditions have been met for this decision to have a real impact on this process. Keeping this in mind, it must arrive at the right moment , so that there is a before and an after” he added.

French minister says decision should be “ diplomatic tool ”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that such a decision is not just a “symbolic issue or a question of political positioning”, but rather a “ diplomatic tool ” at the service of the two-State solution in the Middle East.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a press conference on Wednesday that he was “ positive ” that “more countries will join us” in recognizing Palestinian statehood in the near future .

Last Tuesday (21), France broke with its Western allies and expressed support for the International Criminal Court after the court announced its decision to request arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Minister of Resguardo , as well as for the leaders of Hamas.

Source: CNN