At the end of the European Council, Emmanuel Macron wanted to clarify his position on his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu after his comments on the creation of the State of Israel
This is a clear and cold clarification from Emmanuel Macron. At the end of the European Council this Thursday, October 17, Emmanuel Macron wanted to clarify his position after his comments reported in the press on the subject of the creation of the State of Israel.
According to information from Le Parisien then confirmed by BFMTV, Emmanuel Macron declared during the last Council of Ministers on Tuesday, October 15 that “Mr. Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a UN decision.” Comments which aroused the anger of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for whom the 1948 war created Israel, and not a UN decision.
Emmanuel Macron denounces the behavior of his ministers and journalists
A leak in the press denounced by Emmanuel Macron himself this Thursday evening. “It is up to each of the participants of this Council (of ministers) to be respectful of its rules through ethics, personal discipline so as not to circulate false, truncated or taken out of context information,” he declared in introduction.
“It is up to journalists and commentators to treat rumors and reported comments with the necessary precautions,” continued the President.
“I must tell you how stunned I was to read so many comments, reactions including from foreign or French political leaders to comments that I would have made without asking the question of knowing what exactly I would have said. I believe that I say enough about the situation in the Middle East not to need ventriloquists,” clarified Emmanuel Macron.
The tenant of the Élysée denounces “proof of the disintegration of the public debate and a lack of professionalism of the ministers who repeated distorted remarks, the journalists who repeated them and the commentators who did not focus on reality and the truth of such statements.”
A context of tensions between Macron and Netanyahu
This Tuesday, a few hours after the release of the president’s remarks in the press, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot clarified the presidential thoughts: “The remarks of the President of the Republic in the Council of Ministers were part of a general statement recalling the importance for Israel as for all to respect the charter of the United Nations.”
For several days, tensions have been growing between the President of the Republic and Benjamin Netanyahu. At the beginning of October, the tenant of the Élysée called to “stop providing weapons to carry out the fighting in Gaza”, in a message addressed mainly to the United States. “France does not deliver any,” he stressed.
Comments which outraged the Israeli Prime Minister. “Shame!”, he exclaimed in a videobelieving that “all civilized countries should stand firmly alongside Israel” which “fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran”.
The two leaders then spoke in order to “embrace their differences”, according to a report from the Élysée, also underlining France’s “unwavering commitment” to the security of Israel.
