In his letter, which a French newspaper reviewed, he emphasized that “the fight against anti-Semitism should not be used as a political weapon, and it will not cause any tension between France and Israel.” Macron defended his position, stating: “Our commitment to ensuring the Palestinian people’s right to establish a state stems from our conviction that lasting peace is the only way to guarantee Israel’s security and its regional integration into a peaceful Middle East.” The Elysee Palace had described Netanyahu’s remarks on August 19 as “abhorrent” and “false.” Macron affirmed that recognizing a state “in no way means tolerating Hamas or any terrorist groups that might threaten Israel in the future.” Hebrew media revealed a strongly worded letter sent by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of inciting anti-Semitism in France through his recent positions on Israel and the Palestinian issue. The letter, the details of which were published last Tuesday, highlights the escalating tensions between the two countries over Middle Eastern issues. Netanyahu warns in the letter that Macron’s public criticisms of Israel and his hints of recognizing a Palestinian state coincided with a worrying rise in anti-Semitic incidents in France. The Israeli Prime Minister describes these statements as “appeasement” rather than diplomacy, considering that they bolster the movement’s stance and increase hatred against Jews in Europe. Netanyahu cited incidents targeting Jews in France, including an August attack on a man wearing a Jewish yarmulke in Livry-Gargan, where his Star of David was stolen. He also pointed to the vandalism of the Israeli company El Al’s offices in Paris with graffiti labeling it an “airline of genocide,” and a June arson attack on a Jewish elementary school in Lyon, where a swastika and pro-Palestinian slogans were drawn. He added that rabbis are subjected to physical assaults in the streets of Paris, asserting: “These are not isolated incidents, but an epidemic.”
