Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly pushed back against recent comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested that Israel owes its existence to a United Nations decision. The remarks have deepened tensions between the two leaders, particularly after Macron’s call for an arms embargo in hopes of advancing a cease-fire.
Macron, speaking to his cabinet, noted, “Mr. Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a decision of the U.N.,” referring to the 1947 U.N. resolution that proposed the partition of British-controlled Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Netanyahu, however, swiftly refuted this characterization.
In a sharp response, Netanyahu reminded Macron that Israel’s creation was not simply a result of diplomatic resolutions. “It was not a U.N. decision that established the State of Israel but the victory achieved in the War of Independence with the blood of our heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors,” Netanyahu stated. His remarks referenced the fierce battles following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, when neighboring Arab countries launched attacks on the fledgling state, only for Israel to emerge victorious a year later.
The clash comes amidst a broader disagreement between the two leaders. Macron’s call for an arms embargo is aimed at halting weapons exports to Gaza and Lebanon, seeking to create conditions for a cease-fire. This appeal follows Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas, which escalated after Hamas’ unprovoked attack on October 7, 2023, as well as Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu has strongly criticized Macron’s stance, accusing him and other Western leaders of undermining Israel during its fight against terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which are backed by Iran. “Shame on them,” Netanyahu said, asserting that while Israel will ultimately win the war, the leaders’ call for an arms embargo is a “disgrace.”
Despite these tensions, Macron has clarified that while France will cease arms exports to Israel, it will continue providing missile defense equipment, showing a more nuanced stance in supporting Israel’s defensive capabilities.
