France has strongly rejected accusations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that President Emmanuel Macron’s call to recognise a Palestinian state fuels anti-Semitism in the country. The French presidency described Netanyahu’s remarks as “abject” and “erroneous,” stressing that France “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.”
The statement emphasized that this period requires “seriousness and responsibility, not conflation and manipulation.” Officials also underscored France’s ongoing commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, noting that President Macron has consistently directed strong measures against such acts since 2017, with heightened efforts after the October 2023 terrorist attacks.
Netanyahu’s criticism followed Macron’s announcement that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, making it the first G7 nation to take that step. France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, reaffirmed that violence against its Jewish citizens is intolerable and that its stance on Palestinian statehood is a matter of diplomacy, not appeasement.