Paris, Aug 20 (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly condemned comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling them as "abject" and "erroneous." This reaction follows Netanyahu's accusations that Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state is contributing to the rise of antisemitism.
The tension between Israel and its long-standing allies has been growing, particularly after Macron's announcement last month. France's move, echoed by Britain, Canada, and Australia, has been met with fierce opposition from Israel.
Emphasizing his disapproval, Macron's comments come on the heels of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissing Netanyahu's assertions that Albanese is a "weak politician" for acknowledging a Palestinian state.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, Macron's office declared, “The notion that France's decision to recognize the state of Palestine is linked to the increase in antisemitic violence is erroneous, abject, and will not go unanswered.” It further added that the current times require “seriousness and responsibility, not generalization and manipulation.”
Netanyahu had communicated to Macron that antisemitism has “surged” since Macron’s proclamation to acknowledge a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly. In the letter, Netanyahu claimed, “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitism fire.”
France is known to host Western Europe's largest Jewish population, with around 500,000 Jews, which constitutes roughly 1% of the nation's total population.
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in antisemitic incidents in France, with a significant spike reported in 2023 following the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. These incidents range from physical assaults to threats, vandalism, and harassment, raising significant concerns among Jewish communities and their leaders.
“Violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable,” stated Macron’s office, highlighting that since 2017, and especially post-October 7, 2023, the French president has consistently urged all his governments to “take the strongest possible action against the perpetrators of antisemitic acts.”
Recently, Israeli airline El Al reported that its Paris office was defaced with anti-Israel graffiti, an act described as “deeply disturbing.” In a separate incident, Macron vowed unrelenting efforts to apprehend those responsible for cutting down an olive tree planted in memory of a French Jew murdered in 2006.
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