French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state has ignited fury in Israel, with Netanyahu warning it rewards Hamas and fuels rising antisemitism.
French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown fuel on the fire of Middle East tensions by announcing his push for France to recognize a Palestinian state—arguing it is the “only way to isolate Hamas” and declaring Israel’s Gaza campaign a “failure.”
In a highly charged interview with Channel 12’s Yonit Levi, Macron attempted to justify the move as a step toward peace, despite Hamas openly celebrating his decision. Israelis, however, see it as nothing less than a reward for terror.
Macron insisted, “Our top priority remains the release of all hostages. We recognize the right of Israel to defend itself. But when Israel started to have a sort of permanent war in Gaza, we expressed a disagreement.” He went further, accusing Israel of “totally destroying” its global image through military action.
The French President also attacked the Knesset’s vote affirming Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, labeling it “colonization.” He claimed his recognition plan would give Palestinians a “legitimate perspective,” while ignoring decades of failed Palestinian Authority promises, broken commitments, and a culture of incitement in schools and media.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back fiercely, warning Macron that his stance “pours fuel on the fire of antisemitism” sweeping through France. “Your call for a Palestinian state is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens their refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets,” Netanyahu wrote in a scathing letter.
While Macron claimed the Palestinian Authority has pledged reforms and even issued a letter condemning October 7 as terrorism “for the first time,” many in Israel recall the same empty assurances given since 1993. “We’ve heard this story before,” Levi pressed—reflecting widespread Israeli skepticism.
Adding fuel to the dispute, Macron suggested economic sanctions could be considered against Israel if IDF operations in Gaza continued, though he rejected a full boycott. He has already called twice for an arms embargo on Israel, aligning himself with anti-Israel forces at the UN.
The clash between Paris and Jerusalem underscores a deeper truth: while Israel fights to dismantle Hamas and protect its citizens, Macron’s diplomacy risks legitimizing terrorists, undermining Israeli sovereignty, and emboldening Jew-hatred across Europe.
