Macron denounces Netanyahu's 'abject' remarks that he fueled antisemitism
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Netanyahu's remarks as "abject" and "erroneous" in response to Israel Prime Minister's accusations that his intention to recognize a Palestinian state is fueling antisemitism.
Tensions between Israel and traditional allies escalated in recent weeks following Macron's pledge last month — a move followed by Britain, Canada and Australia but strongly opposed by Israel.
Macron's strong comments come as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday brushed off Netanyahu's accusations that the Australian leader is a "weak politician who had betrayed Israel" by recognizing a Palestinian state.
"The analysis that France's decision to recognize the state of Palestine in September explains the rise in antisemitic violence in France is erroneous, abject, and will not go unanswered," Macron's office said in a statement released on Tuesday evening. "The current period calls for seriousness and responsibility, not generalization and manipulation."
Netanyahu wrote to Macron that antisemitism has "surged" in France since Macron's announcement that he will recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly next month, in a letter dated Monday seen by the Associated Press. "Your call for a Palestinian state pour fuels on this antisemitism fire," Netanyahu said.
France is home to Western Europe's largest Jewish population, with an estimated 500,000 Jews — approximately 1% of the national population.
In recent years, antisemitic incidents have surged in France, with a sharp increase reported in 2023 after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. These include physical assaults, threats, vandalism, and harassment, prompting alarm among Jewish communities and leaders.
"Violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable," the statement by Macron's office said, noting that the French president has systematically asked all his governments since 2017, and even more so since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, to "take the strongest possible action against the perpetrators of antisemitic acts."
Last week, Israeli airline El Al said its Paris office was vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti, calling the act "deeply disturbing." In a separate incident, Macron pledged that no effort will be spared to track down and prosecute unknown attackers who chopped down an olive tree planted in homage to a French Jew murdered in 2006.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LBCI
2 hours ago
- LBCI
Palestinian Presidential spokesperson: Weapons inside Palestinian camps in Lebanon to be handed over to the Lebanese Army
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in a statement that "the State of Palestine announced that an agreement has been reached with the Lebanese state to start handing over the weapons inside the Palestinian camps to the Lebanese army as a deposit." Abu Rudeineh added that the competent Palestinian authorities handed over the first batch of weapons in the Borj El Brajneh and El-Buss camps to the Lebanese Army on Thursday, with the rest of the camps soon to follow. He explained that this came by the presidential statement issued by the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Lebanese President, General Joseph Aoun, on May 21, following their official talks session held in the capital Beirut. During the meeting, President Abbas affirmed the depth of Palestinian-Lebanese fraternal relations, strengthening cooperation and coordination between the two countries and brotherly peoples, and supporting the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent free state on June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. Abu Rudeineh pointed out that the two sides affirmed their adherence to the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes from which they were displaced, in accordance with international resolution 194, and their rejection of all resettlement and displacement projects. He explained that the two sides agreed to form a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee to follow up on the conditions of the Palestinian camps in Lebanon and work to improve the living and humanitarian conditions of the refugees, while respecting Lebanese sovereignty and abiding by Lebanese laws. Abu Rudeineh noted that the two sides emphasized their commitment to providing the human, social, and economic rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, guaranteeing them a decent life without compromising their right of return or affecting their national identity. The two sides emphasized their commitment to the principle of the exclusive control of weapons by the Lebanese state over its entire territory, the end of any manifestations contrary to this, and the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Lebanon. The two presidents emphasized the importance of maintaining security and safety for our people in the camps, in order to reach a stable security situation in full coordination between the competent agencies in the Lebanese Republic and the State of Palestine.
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Trump administration reportedly asked Israel to scale back 'non-urgent' military actions in Lebanon
The Trump administration asked Israel to reduce "non‑urgent" military actions in Lebanon to back the Lebanese government's decision to begin disarming Hezbollah, two sources told Axios. On Aug.5, the Lebanese government instructed the army to prepare a plan aimed at ensuring the state's monopoly on weapons by the end of 2025. This move to disarm Hezbollah was encouraged by the U.S., though many in the region remain skeptical about its feasibility. The administration believes that reciprocal actions by Israel — like easing off military pressure — would give Lebanon "more room to maneuver and credibility to follow through," according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid. Since the cease-fire with Hezbollah on Nov.24, Israel has continued near-daily airstrikes in Lebanon and maintains five military positions in the south. The U.S. has now asked Israel to consider withdrawing from one of these positions and to significantly scale back airstrikes for several weeks as a gesture of cooperation, according to Axios. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has led discussions with Israeli officials on parallel measures supporting Lebanon's disarmament process. He has also backed a gradual withdrawal from the five southern posts in response to tangible Lebanese progress. Sources tell Axios that the U.S. proposes establishing a "Trump economic zone" in southern Lebanese border areas following Israel's full withdrawal — an initiative Saudi Arabia and Qatar have agreed to support financially. The idea is to strengthen border stability and deter Hezbollah's military return without requiring long-term occupation. The latest discussions unfolded Wednesday in Paris, where Israeli Minister Ron Dermer met with Barrack and U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus. A source told Axios: "The Israelis have not said no and are ready to try the experiment. They understand that what the Lebanese cabinet has done is historic and they need to give something in return." Meanwhile, Palestinian factions in Lebanese refugee camps began handing over weapons on Thursday, honoring a May agreement to reinforce the government's arms monopoly. The process began in Burj al-Brajneh camp, where the first cache was transferred to the Lebanese Army. Barrack praised the move as a "historic step toward Lebanon's unity and stability."
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Our weapons are our honor. We are giving up our honor'
BEIRUT — Disarmament began Thursday evening at the Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian camp, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, in accordance with an agreement reached last May aimed at guaranteeing the Lebanese state's monopoly on weapons. At the entrance to the camp, Lebanese Army soldiers, armored vehicles and ambulances lined the road leading to Rafic Hariri International Airport. The press was present, but soldiers prevented access to the camp and asked everyone to stay back. Also at the entrance, Fateh elements, wearing military uniforms with a patch representing the Palestinian flag, stood guard. "I'm coming back from work. I didn't even know about a disarmament," said a man on his scooter. "We know nothing. Everything happened all of a sudden," added a shopkeeper, observing the scene with concern. In the parking area where the operation was taking place, army trucks entered. According to information by L'Orient Today, both heavy and light weapons were involved. Under the soldiers' watchful eyes, a pickup truck loaded with bags of weapons arrived. Some residents objected to the operation. "We should not hand over weapons to the state," stated a resident. Hiba, 24, a Palestinian nurse, believes Fateh should hand over its weapons, which "are useless" and "used against its own people." "But I don't want Hamas to hand theirs over," she added. Ihab, another resident, also said he opposed handing over the weapons: "It's a mistake, otherwise the army will be able to enter the camp whenever it wants." "We don't anticipate any clashes," assured an informed source. "The most complicated camps will be Ain al-Hilweh, Rashidieh and Mieh Mieh, due to the presence of radicals." On the road towards the camp, traffic was heavy. "It's them [the Palestinians] now, and us next," said Hussein Hamieh, 59, a taxi driver, referring to the announced disarmament of Hezbollah, which he supports. In a cafe whose walls bear the portrait of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, assassinated by Israel, a 27-year-old Palestinian man explained: "Our weapons are our honor. We are giving up our honor." A 42-year-old shopkeeper, watching the disarmament, confided her confusion and anxiety: "I don't understand what's happening. All I want is to go home." "Handing over these weapons means giving up one's honor," she said, doubting that the Palestinian factions were genuinely surrendering their weapons. "The factions don't hand over weapons. It's a kind of theatrics," said a man presenting himself as a Fateh member at the scene. Sami Diab, 25, who lives near the airport road, said it was "about time. These weapons have only been used against the Palestinians themselves." Other voices were raised against the operation. "We shouldn't have handed over the weapons," "We are not happy," said some young people from the camp. Hajj Hanaa Slim, 62, expressed concern: "Do you see what's happening? Soon it will happen in Beirut's southern suburbs and in the South. And after that? A complete [Israeli] invasion. May God have mercy on the Sayyed's [Hassan Nasrallah] soul and protect us from what lies ahead." "Why should they hand over their weapons? Will the country be better if the weapons are handed over?" asked a Lebanese man from the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Nearby, his friend, a Hezbollah supporter, was not worried about the "weapons of the resistance." "Even if Sheikh Naim Qassem asks us to hand over the weapons, we will refuse (...) We will resist anyone who tries to take them."
