Macron denounces Netanyahus abject remarks that he fuelled antisemitism
PTI
Last Updated:
Paris, Aug 20 (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks as 'abject" and 'erroneous" in response to Israel Prime Minister's accusations that his intention to recognise a Palestinian state is fuelling 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 recognising a Palestinian state.
'The analysis that France's decision to recognise 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 generalisation and manipulation." Netanyahu wrote to Macron that antisemitism has 'surged" in France since Macron's announcement that he will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN 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 5,00,000 Jews — approximately 1 per cent of the national population.
In recent years, antisemitic incidents have surged in France, with a sharp increase reported in 2023 after the October 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 October 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 vandalised 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. (AP) NPK NPK
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Emmanuel Macron calls PM Modi, discusses Gaza & Trump meeting on Ukraine war
French President Emmanuel Macron called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared his assessment on the recent meetings between US President Donald Trump, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had called Modi to share his 'insights' on the meeting with Trump in Alaska. The Prime Minister's office said on Thursday: 'Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a phone call from the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.' 'The leaders exchanged views on the ongoing efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and the West Asia region,' the PMO said. 'President Macron shared assessment on the recent meetings held between the leaders of the Europe, US and Ukraine in Washington. He also shared his perspectives on the situation in Gaza,' it said. The PMO statement said Modi reiterated India's consistent support for peaceful resolution of conflicts and early restoration of peace and stability. Modi posted on X: 'Had a very good conversation with my friend President Macron. Exchanged views on efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia. Reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership.' Macron said, in a post on X: 'I have just spoken with Prime Minister @NarendraModi. We coordinated our positions on the war in Ukraine in order to move towards a just and lasting peace, with strong guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's security.' 'On trade issues, we agreed to strengthen our economic exchanges and our strategic partnership in all areas — this is the key to our sovereignty and independence,' he said. Following up on the AI Action Summit held in Paris last February, the French President said, 'we are working towards the success of the AI Impact Summit to be held in New Delhi in 2026.' 'For more effective multilateralism, we agreed to work closely together in preparation for the French presidency of the G7 and the Indian presidency of the BRICS in 2026,' Macron said. The PMO said that the leaders also 'reviewed progress in the bilateral cooperation agenda, including in the areas of trade, defence, civil nuclear cooperation, technology and energy. They reaffirmed joint commitment to strengthen India-France Strategic Partnership…' The PMO said Macron conveyed support for early conclusion of the India-EU FTA.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
US court throws out massive civil fraud penalty against President Trump
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New York, Aug 22 (AP) A New York appeals court has thrown out President Donald Trump's massive financial penalty while narrowly upholding a judge's finding that he engaged in fraud by exaggerating his wealth for decades. The Thursday's ruling spares Trump from a potential half-billion-dollar fine but bans him and his two eldest sons from serving in corporate leadership for a few years. Trump, in a social media post, claimed 'total victory" in the case, which stemmed from a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. 'I greatly respect the fact that the Court had the Courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful Decision that was hurting Business all throughout New York State," the Republican wrote. James, a Democrat, focused on the parts of the decision that went her way, saying in a statement that it 'affirmed the well-supported finding of the trial court: Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud." The ruling came seven months after Trump returned to the White House, his political fortunes unimpeded by the civil fraud judgment, a criminal conviction and other legal blows. A sharply divided panel of five judges in the state's mid-level Appellate Division couldn't agree on many issues raised in Trump's appeal, but a majority said the monetary penalty was 'excessive". A lower-court judge, Arthur Engoron, had ordered Trump last year to pay $355 million in penalties after finding that he flagrantly padded financial statements provided to lenders and insurers. With interest, the sum has topped $515 million. Additional penalties for executives at his company, the Trump Organisation, including sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, have brought the total to $527 million with interest. 'While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award" to the state, Judges Dianne Renwick and Peter Moulton wrote in one of three opinions shaping the appeals court's ruling. They called the penalty 'an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution." Both were appointed by Democratic governors. Engoron's other punishments, upheld by the appeals court, have been on pause during Trump's appeal, and the president was able to hold off collection of the money by posting a $175 million bond. Donald Trump Jr celebrated the decision by mocking James, who had periodically posted a running tally of the fraud penalty, with interest. Over a post from James in February 2024, when the tally was nearly $465 million, Trump Jr wrote: 'I believe you mean $0.00. Thank you for your attention to this matter." The five-judge panel, which split on the merits of the lawsuit and Engoron's fraud finding, dismissed the monetary penalty in its entirety while also leaving a pathway for an appeal to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals. In the meantime, Trump and his co-defendants, the judges wrote, can seek to extend the pause to prevent any punishments from taking effect. While the Appellate Division dispatches most appeals in a few pages in a matter of weeks, the judges weighing Trump's case took nearly 11 months to rule after oral arguments last fall and issued 323 pages of concurring and dissenting opinions with no majority. Rather, some judges endorsed parts of their colleagues' findings while denouncing others, enabling the court to rule. Two judges wrote that they felt James' lawsuit was justifiable and that she had proven her case but the penalty was too severe. One wrote that James exceeded her legal authority in bringing the suit, saying that if any lenders felt cheated, they could have sued Trump themselves, and none did. Another wrote that Engoron erred by ruling before the trial that James had proven Trump engaged in fraud. In his portion of the ruling, Judge David Friedman, appointed by a Republican governor, was scathing in his criticism of James for bringing the lawsuit. 'Plainly, her ultimate goal was not market hygiene' … but political hygiene, ending with the derailment of President Trump's political career and the destruction of his real estate business," Friedman wrote. 'The voters have obviously rendered a verdict on his political career. This bench today unanimously derails the effort to destroy his business." Trump and his co-defendants denied wrongdoing. At the conclusion of the civil trial in January 2024, Trump said he was 'an innocent man" and the case was a 'fraud on me". The Republican leader has repeatedly maintained the case and the verdict were political moves by James and Engoron, both Democrats. Trump's Justice Department has subpoenaed James for records related to the lawsuit, among other documents, as part of an investigation into whether she violated the president's civil rights. James' personal attorney Abbe D Lowell has said investigating the fraud case is 'the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president's political retribution campaign". Trump and his lawyers said his financial statements weren't deceptive, since they came with disclaimers noting they weren't audited. The defence also noted bankers and insurers independently evaluated the numbers, and the loans were repaid. Despite such discrepancies as tripling the size of his Trump Tower penthouse, he said the financial statements were, if anything, lowball estimates of his fortune. During an appellate court hearing last September, Trump's lawyers argued that many of the case's allegations were too old and that James had misused a consumer protection law to sue Trump over private business transactions that were satisfactory to those involved. State attorneys said that while Trump insists no one was harmed by the financial statements, his exaggerations led lenders to make riskier loans and that honest borrowers lose out when others game their net worth numbers. The civil fraud case was just one of several legal obstacles for Trump as he campaigned, won and segued to a second term as president. On Jan 10, he was sentenced in his criminal hush money case to what's known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him jail, probation, a fine or other punishment. He is appealing the conviction. top videos View all And in December, a federal appeals court upheld a jury's finding that Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her, affirming a $5 million judgment against him. The appeals court declined in June to reconsider. Trump still can try to get the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. Trump also is appealing a subsequent verdict that requires him to pay Carroll $83.3 million for additional defamation claims. (AP) SCY SCY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 22, 2025, 04:45 IST News agency-feeds US court throws out massive civil fraud penalty against President Trump Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
News18
an hour ago
- News18
5 Dead, 36 Hurt In Colombia Bomb Attack Near Air Base, Probe Underway
Last Updated: Cali Mayor Eder has announced a ban on large trucks entering the city, citing the risk of additional attacks. A vehicle bomb explosion in the Colombian city of Cali killed at least five people and injured dozens more on Thursday, according to reports from AFP. The incident occurred near a military facility and has raised concerns about escalating violence in the lead-up to the 2026 presidential elections. Cali's Mayor Alejandro Eder confirmed the toll, stating that preliminary reports indicated at least five fatalities and 36 people injured. The explosion occurred on a busy street in the northern part of the city, close to the Marco Fidel Suárez Military Aviation School. Authorities believe the blast targeted the air base directly. Police officials stated that the vehicle bomb was likely meant to hit military personnel stationed at the base. While the motive remains unclear, some officials have suggested the attack may be an attempt to destabilize ongoing peace efforts in the region. Eyewitnesses described the moment of the explosion. Héctor Fabio Bolaños, 65, told AFP, 'There was a thunderous sound of something exploding near the air base. Many houses were damaged in front of the base." Following the blast, several buildings, including a school, were evacuated as a precaution. Another witness indicated that some of those killed may have been civilians passing by at the time of the explosion. In response to the attack, Mayor Eder has announced a ban on large trucks entering the city, citing the risk of additional threats. He also offered a reward of US$10,000 for information leading to those responsible. While the investigation is ongoing, no group has claimed responsibility. However, Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro condemned the bombing, calling it a 'terrorist attack." She added, 'Terrorism will not defeat us." The Colombian Air Force released an official statement, saying, 'At this time, efforts are underway to verify the damage to facilities and personnel, as well as the investigation to determine the causes and perpetrators of this terrorist act, which threatens civilians and the lives of the men and women who serve Colombians from the Air Force." Colombia has seen a rise in violence in recent months. In June, leftist guerrillas claimed responsibility for attacks around Cali that left seven people dead. On Thursday, a separate incident in Antioquia department resulted in eight deaths during clashes between guerrilla fighters and police officers. Authorities have not yet confirmed who was behind that attack. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
