O.Próximo.- Netanyahu accuses Macron of fueling anti-Semitism over recognition of the Palestinian state.

The Elysee Palace calls the Israeli prime minister's remarks "erroneous and abject" and says they "will not go unanswered."

MADRID, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)

In a letter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of "fueling anti-Semitic hatred" for recognizing the State of Palestine. This has caused outrage in Paris, which has urged the Israeli government not to exploit such a serious issue as anti-Semitism.

Netanyahu has sent a letter to the French president criticizing his recent statements against Israel regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip and warning about the "alarming" rise of antisemitism in the European country, as well as the government's lack of "decisive" measures to address the issue.

The letter also asserts that Macron's announcement regarding the recognition of the State of Palestine "fuels the anti-Semitic fire," "rewards" the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), strengthens the militia's position against facilitating the release of hostages in the enclave, and fosters hatred of Jews on the streets of France.

In response, the Elysée Palace said in a statement that Israel's analysis of how recognition of Palestine explains the rise of antisemitism in France is "erroneous" and "abject," and that this "will not go unchallenged."

"Violence against the Jewish community is unacceptable. Therefore, beyond condemnations, the head of state has systematically called on all his governments since 2017—and even more so after the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023—to take the greatest firm stance against the perpetrators of antisemitic acts," he noted.

He also recalled that the French president decided last July to annually mark the anniversary of the reversal of the treason conviction imposed on the military officer Alfred Dreyfus in the most notorious case of anti-Semitic prosecution.

The Elysee Palace also emphasized that antisemitism requires "seriousness" and "responsibility," not "manipulation." "In accordance with current protocol, the President of the Republic will respond to the Israeli Prime Minister by email," he concluded.

Earlier, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad stated in an interview with BFM TV that France "has no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism," as the government has always been "extremely mobilized" on this issue. "I think on a serious issue, the government and the President of the Republic have always been absolutely firm," he concluded.

"I want to say very clearly and firmly that this problem of antisemitism, which is poisoning our European societies and which we have seen on the rise since the Hamas attacks of October 7, cannot be exploited," he added.

Macron announced at the end of August that France would recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September due to its "historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

The French president had planned to recognize the State of Palestine during the international summit co-sponsored by Paris and Riyadh, scheduled to be held in mid-June at the United Nations headquarters in New York, but the event was postponed due to the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran.