President Macron rejects Netanyahu's criticism on rising
antisemitism in France, and warns against weaponizing the issue. Macron urges
Netanyahu to end the Gaza conflict.
Israel has been under increasing pressure to return Israeli captives held in Gaza and to conclude its campaign there, where the conflict has left much of the region in ruins and caused a humanitarian crisis.
“These accusations of inaction in the face of a scourge that we are fighting with everything in our power are unacceptable and are an offence to France as a whole,”
Macron wrote, in a letter published in several newspapers.
“The fight against antisemitism must not be weaponised and will not fuel any discord between Israel and France.”
Netanyahu had expressed his displeasure in a letter dated mid-August that Macron's pledge to recognize a Palestinian state was encouraging antisemitism.
“I solemnly appeal to you to end the desperate race of a murderous and illegal permanent war in Gaza, causing indignity for your country and placing your people in a deadlock,”
Macron wrote, in Tuesday’s letter.
At a September UN conference, Macron had declared that France will legally recognize a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu said in his letter to Macron that after the announcement, antisemitism had "surged" in France.
“Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement,” of the Hamas militants that Israel is fighting in Gaza, the Israeli leader wrote.
How did Macron justify rejecting Netanyahu’s claim as “abject” and “erroneous”?
President Emmanuel Macron defended referring to Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement as “abject” or “false” by
reasoning that France recognizing a Palestinian state is not the reason for the
spike in antisemitism in France.
This is a conflation of complex societal issues and a manipulation of the complexity for political purposes. Antisemitism is an enduring and unacceptable problem that France deals with soberly, responsibly, and with strong laws that protect its Jewish community.
Macron stated that this is a serious time and more serious discussions than generalizations and manipulations. France’s recognition of the Palestinian state is part of a larger vision for peace and justice and its recognition of a Palestinian state should not be associated with antisemitic violence.