By Kennedy Nalyanya
In a fiery letter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fuelling antisemitism by announcing France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state. The letter takes a strong stance against Macron’s recent statement that France would formally recognize Palestine during a UN meeting in September.
Netanyahu didn’t mince words, writing that Macron's call for a Palestinian state "pours fuel on this anti-Semitic fire." He argued that the move is not diplomacy, but an act of "appeasement" that rewards Hamas and endangers French Jews. The Israeli leader urged Macron to take a firm stand against antisemitism by the Jewish New Year on September 23.
France’s decision adds to a growing list of nations that have recently announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state. According to an AFP tally, at least 145 of the 193 UN members now recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state, including countries like Australia, Britain, and Canada.
The diplomatic tensions aren’t limited to France. Netanyahu also recently launched a personal attack on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his official X account. He called Albanese a "weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" after the Australian government cancelled the visa of a far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman.
In a tit-for-tat move, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar revoked the visas of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority. The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, condemned the move as an "unjustified reaction," stating that Netanyahu’s government is "isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace.
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