“Your call to recognize the Palestinian state fuels the fire of anti -Semitism, (…) rewards Hamas terror, strengthens Hamas's disagreement to release hostages (imprisoned in the Gaza -Pap zone), emboldens those who threaten French Jews and encourages hatred of Jews, “Netanyahu wrote to Macron in a letter, whose fragments were published on Tuesday by the AFP agency.
There is the answer
The Elysee Palace stated that these The accusations are “wrong and wicked”. France “protected and will protect” its citizens professing Judaism, “the president's office assured in a statement. She noticed that The current moment requires “seriousness and responsibility, not mixing and manipulation”. The Elysee Palace added that the letter of the Prime Minister of Israel to Emmanuel Macron “will not remain unanswered”.
Netanyahu emphasized in his message that he was concerned about the “alarming” increase in anti -Semitism in France and the lack of a definite response from the government in Paris. He also accused the French president that this phenomenon was growing along with Macron's “attacking Israel”.
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The Prime Minister of Israel called the French leader to “replace the weakness” and did it before the holiday of Rosz Haszana, i.e. the Jewish New Year, which falls on September 23.
The number of anti -Semitic acts in France has increased
Acts of anti -Semitism became more frequent in France from October 7, 2023, i.e. attacks of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, to which Israel responded with the offensive in the Gaza Strip.
According to data from the Ministry of the Interior in Paris in the period from January to May this year. 504 anti -Semitic acts were recorded in France, which means a decline compared to the same period in 2024, when 662 incidents occurred. However, this is still a very high level – emphasized the Ministry of the Interior, stating that in comparison with 2023 the number of anti -Semitism acts increased by over 130 percent.
French minister: We don't need lessons
Earlier on Tuesday, the French minister of European affairs Benjamin Haddad reacted to criticism of Netanyahu. He estimated that France “does not need a lesson on the fight against anti -Semitism” and assured that the authorities in Paris “have always been extremely mobilized against anti -Semitism.” Haddad added that the issue of Hamas growing after the attack in Europe of anti -Semitism cannot be treated instrumentally.
At the end of July, Macron announced that his country would recognize the statehood of Palestine during the autumn session of the UN General Assembly. The general debate is to start on September 23.
Similar declarations were announced by governments, including Great Britain, Canada or Australia. Israeli authorities criticized these decisions, specifying them, among others as rewarding a terrorist Hamas.
