Israel's Netanyahu slams France's Macron for fuelling ‘anti-Semitic fire'
Mr Netanyahu (left) slammed Mr Macron over France's decision to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN in September.
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upbraided President Emmanuel Macron in a letter seen by AFP on Aug 19, blaming the French leader's move to recognise a Palestinian state for fuelling anti-Semitism.
In late July, Mr Macron said France would
formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, drawing a swift rebuke from Israel.
By announcing the move, France was set to join a growing list of nations to have recognised statehood for the Palestinians since the start of the Gaza war nearly two years ago.
In the letter sent to Mr Macron, Mr Netanyahu said anti-Semitism had 'surged' in France following the announcement.
'Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this anti-Semitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas' refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets,' Mr Netanyahu wrote in the letter.
The Israeli premier went on to call on Mr Macron to confront anti-Semitism in France, saying he must 'replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve, and to do so by a clear date: the Jewish New Year, Sept 23'.
According to an AFP tally, at least 145 of the 193 UN members now recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, including Australia, Britain and Canada.
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Canberra joined the list earlier this month, announcing its intention to recognise a Palestinian state in September.
Mr Netanyahu
slammed his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Aug 19, labelling him a 'weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews,' in an angry post on his office's official X account.
The personal attack came amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries after the Australian government on Aug 18
cancelled the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman.
Mr Rothman, whose ultranationalist party is in Mr Netanyahu's governing coalition, had been scheduled to speak at events organised by the Australian Jewish Association.
Hours after his visa was cancelled, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had revoked the visas of Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said revoking their visas was an 'unjustified reaction' by Israel and that Mr Netanayahu's government was 'isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution'. AFP
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