Immediately upon his return from a visit to India, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed the seizure and offset of frozen Palestinian Authority funds, directing them to compensation for the families of terror victims.
France’s political storm deepened this week as yet another prime minister was toppled by a failed no-confidence vote, plunging President Emmanuel Macron into what experts call a “spiral with no exit.”
Dr. Emmanuel Navon, an international relations scholar at Tel Aviv University, told Israel National News – Arutz Sheva that France is effectively paralyzed:
“Parliament is split between the far-right, far-left, and Macron’s centrists, with no majority. Each time Macron appoints a prime minister, the government collapses at the first no-confidence vote. It’s a destructive cycle.”
Navon argued that Macron’s domestic fragility has bled into foreign policy—particularly toward Israel.
“His harsh rhetoric and threats to recognize a Palestinian state aren’t ideological,” Navon explained. “They’re a desperate attempt to curry favor with left-wing and Muslim voters. But it won’t work—appealing to the left won’t give him the majority he needs.”
A parallel scenario is unfolding in Spain, Navon noted, where a far-left government hostile to Israel has threatened sanctions.
“This will end badly for Spain,” he warned. “The coalition is led by a prime minister mired in corruption scandals. Once the right returns to power—which is only a matter of time—the stance will flip, as the Spanish right is staunchly pro-Israel.”
Despite Paris and Madrid’s hostile rhetoric, Navon emphasized that public opinion tells a different story.
“Most polls show a silent majority supports Israel, recognizing that Israel’s fight is also theirs. But leaders focused on survival are weaponizing anti-Israel positions.”
Navon praised Israel’s diplomatic strategy under Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who has pushed back firmly against Europe’s political attacks while strengthening alliances in Eastern Europe and with countries more supportive of Israel.
“Sa’ar is right not to let these governments use Israel as a punching bag for their own political crises. His strong responses are justified.”
