Germany’s coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 22 August that recognising a Palestinian state now would be “premature” and “counter-productive”. A government spokesman told reporters in Berlin that Palestinian statehood should come at the end of direct negotiations on a two-state solution with Israel, not before them. The stance distances Berlin from capitals such as Paris, where diplomats have indicated France will formally recognise Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly session in September. German officials argued that early recognition would undercut efforts to restart peace talks and risk hardening positions on both sides.