Paris – France – August 20, 2025
A fierce diplomatic row has erupted between France and Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fueling antisemitism. The French presidency has strongly rejected the claim, calling it “abject” and “erroneous,” and stating that the accusation will “not go unanswered.”
The exchange began with a letter from Netanyahu to Macron, obtained by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) and other media outlets. In the letter, Netanyahu directly linked a recent “surge” in antisemitic acts in France to Macron’s decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September.
Headlines from the Diplomatic Dispute
* Netanyahu’s Allegation: The Israeli prime minister wrote that Macron’s call for a Palestinian state “pours fuel on this antisemitic fire.” He described the move not as diplomacy, but as “appeasement” that “rewards Hamas terror.” He further urged Macron to “replace weakness with action” in confronting antisemitism by a clear deadline.
* Macron’s Firm Response: The French presidency swiftly condemned the accusation in a statement, emphasizing that the country “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.” The statement added that “this is a time for seriousness and responsibility, not for conflation and manipulation.”
* No Lessons Needed: France’s Minister for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, was even more direct in his response, stating that France has “no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism.” He also warned that the issue of antisemitism, which he described as “poisoning our European societies,” should not be “exploited.”
* Escalating Tensions: The public spat comes as relations between the two countries have been under increasing strain. Last month, Macron’s announcement that France would recognize a Palestinian state was met with an immediate rebuke from Israel. There have also been reports that Israel is considering closing the French consulate in Jerusalem, a move that France has warned would provoke a “strong response.”
This latest escalation highlights the deep divisions between European nations and Israel over the ongoing conflict and the path to a lasting peace. As France prepares to make its formal declaration at the UN, the tension with Israel is likely to continue to mount.
