France hits back after Netanyahu accuses Macron of fuelling antisemitism

By&nbspEuronews

Published connected 20/08/2025 - 14:54 GMT+2 •Updated 14:55

Paris has deed backmost aft Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fuelling antisemitism pinch his determination to recognise a Palestinian state.

Tensions betwixt nan 2 nations person escalated since Macron announced past period that France intends to formally recognise Palestinian statehood successful September astatine nan United Nations General Assembly.

Netanyahu wrote a missive to Macron earlier this week claiming that antisemitism has "surged" successful France since that announcement.

"Your telephone for a Palestinian authorities pours substance connected this antisemitic fire," Netanyahu wrote.

"It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to free nan hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews and encourages nan Jew-hatred now stalking your streets," he added.

A connection released by Macron's agency connected Tuesday evening said Netanyahu's accusations were "erroneous, abject, and will not spell unanswered".

"Violence against nan Jewish organization is unacceptable," nan connection by Macron's agency said. It noted that nan French president has systematically asked each his governments since 2017, and moreover much truthful since nan 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, to "take nan strongest imaginable action against nan perpetrators of antisemitic acts".

"[France] protects and will ever protect its compatriots of nan Jewish faith," it added.

Australia besides criticised

France is location to Western Europe's largest Jewish population, pinch an estimated 500,000 Jews — astir 1% of nan nationalist population.

In caller years, antisemitic incidents person surged successful France, pinch a crisp summation reported successful 2023 aft 7 October and nan ensuing warfare successful Gaza.

These see beingness assaults, threats, vandalism, and harassment, prompting siren among Jewish communities and leaders.

Last week, Israeli hose El Al said its Paris agency was vandalized pinch anti-Israel graffiti, calling nan enactment "deeply disturbing". In a abstracted incident, Macron pledged that nary effort will beryllium spared to way down and prosecute chartless attackers who chopped down an oliva character planted successful homage to a French Jew murdered successful 2006.

Netanyahu's missive to Macron cited nan El Al incident and mentioned different caller examples of unit against Jews arsenic good arsenic vandalism of Jewish institutions successful France.

"These are not isolated incidents. They are a plague," Netanyahu wrote.

Separately connected Tuesday, France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad criticised Netanyahu's missive and defended France's grounds connected antisemitism.

"I'm telling you that this is simply a matter that should not beryllium instrumentalised. France has nary lessons to study successful nan conflict against antisemitism," Haddad told broadcaster BFM TV.

Macron's promise to recognise Palestinian statehood past period was followed by akin promises from Britain, Canada and Australia, though their vows came pinch caveats.

On Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed accusations from Netanyahu claiming that he was a "weak leader who had betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" by recognising a Palestinian state.

"I dainty leaders of different countries pinch respect. I prosecute pinch them successful a negotiated way," Albanese said successful consequence to Netanyahu's criticism, which was besides delivered successful a letter.