Tensions escalated between France and Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fuelling antisemitism by announcing plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
In a letter reported by AFP, Netanyahu said antisemitism had “surged” in France following Macron’s declaration. “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to free hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews, and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets,” he wrote. Netanyahu urged Macron to act decisively against antisemitism by September 23, the Jewish New Year.
The remarks drew an immediate response from Paris. The Elyse Palace dismissed the allegations as “abject” and “erroneous,” stressing that France “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.” The presidency said Netanyahu’s letter “will not go unanswered,” adding that “this is a time for seriousness and responsibility, not for conflation and manipulation.”
France’s Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad also pushed back, declaring that the country had “no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism.” He cautioned against exploiting the issue, describing antisemitism as a poison that must be confronted with unity, not division.
Macron announced last month that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, aligning Paris with at least 145 UN member states that already extend such recognition. The move was swiftly condemned by Israel.
Netanyahu has also targeted other governments backing Palestinian statehood. Earlier this month, he attacked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling him a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” after Canberra announced its support for recognition. The spat deepened after Australia revoked the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, prompting Israel to retaliate by withdrawing visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong denounced Israel’s response as “unjustified” and accused Netanyahu’s government of isolating itself while undermining efforts toward a two-state solution.
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With inputs from AFP
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