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 @ISIDEWITHNewsInternational RelationsDiplomacyMiddle EastFrancePalestine•••11mos ago

France's Bold Move: Macron to Recognize Palestinian State, Defying U.S. and Israeli Opposition

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will officially recognize the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, making it the first G7 nation to do so.

This decision comes amid growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a diplomatic impasse in the Middle East peace process. Macron's move has been met with strong condemnation from Israel and the United States, who argue it could embolden Hamas and undermine peace efforts, while some European and Arab nations have welcomed the decision. The recognition is seen as a significant shift in Western policy and could pressure other countries to follow suit, potentially altering the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The announcement also highlights deep divisions among Western allies on how to address the ongoing war in Gaza and the broader quest for Middle East peace.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…2yrs2Y

A Moment of Darkness': Washington Post's No-Endorsement Decision Ignites Media Firestorm

Even though the presidential race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is neck and neck, The Washington Post has decided not to make a presidential endorsement for the first time in 36 years, the publisher and CEO announced Friday."We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates," Will Lewis wrote in an opinion piece published on the paper's website. He referenced the paper's policy in the decades prior to 1976, when, following the Watergate scandal that the Post broke, it endorsed Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter. The last time the Post did not endorse a presidential candidate in the general election was 1988, according to a search of its archives.Colleagues learned the news from the editorial page editor, David Shipley, at a tense meeting shortly before Lewis' announcement. The meeting was characterized by someone with direct knowledge of discussions on condition of anonymity to speak about internal matters.Shipley said that he told other editorial board leaders Thursday by management that there would be no endorsement, though he has known for weeks. He added that he "owns" this decision. The reason he cited was to create "independent space" where the newspaper does not tell people for whom to vote.Colleagues were said to be "shocked" and uniformly negative. Post corporate spokespeople have not responded to multiple messages left by NPR on the subject.Former Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron, who led the newsroom to acclaim during Trump's presidency, denounced the decision starkly."This is cowardice, a moment of darkness that will leave democracy as a casualty," Baron said in a statement to NPR. "Donald Trump will celebrate this as an invitation to further intimidate The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos (and other media owners). History will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness at an institution famed for courage."A similar decision by Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong led this week to the resignations of the paper's editorials editor and two editorial board members. Soon-Shiong said that he had asked the editorial board to draft a "factual analysis" of Trump and Harris' policies and plans. In her resignation letter, editorials editor Mariel Garza said the decision made the paper look “craven and hypocritical,” given its past reporting and editorials on Trump.

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