Still unease between the two countries? Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed this Sunday, October 6 to Benjamin Netanyahu France’s “unwavering commitment” to the security of Israel, during a telephone conversation the day after his statements calling for a halt to certain arms deliveries to the Jewish state.
The President of the Republic, however, insisted on the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanonannounced the Élysée. While his Israeli interlocutor asked for his “support” and “not restrictions”, according to his office.
“On the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist offensive against Israel” on October 7, 2023, Emmanuel Macron “expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people”indicated the French presidency. He also expressed his “conviction that the time for a ceasefire has now come.”
The two leaders discussed “the situation in the Middle East, in complete frankness and with respect for the friendship between France and Israel”, said the Élysée. They “assume their differences of view just like their desire to each be well understood by the other,” he added.
“The President of the Republic reiterated to the Israeli Prime Minister that theFrance’s commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering” while reminding him of “the mobilization of French military resources to its defense during the attacks carried out by Iran in recent months”, underlined the French presidency.
“No restrictions”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office, for its part, reported that Benjamin Netanyahu had asked the French president for “support”. “Friends of Israel are expected to support it and do not impose restrictions on it which will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil”, he declared to Emmanuel Macron, presenting his country’s offensive against Hezbollah as “an opportunity to change the reality in Lebanon for the benefit of stability, security and peace throughout the region.
The French president aroused the anger of Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday by affirming that the “priority” was now “a political solution” and “that we stop delivering weapons to carry out the fighting in Gaza”. While specifying that France did not provide any itself. “Shame” to leaders who call for embargoes on arms deliveries to Israel, the head of the Israeli government sharply replied.
During their telephone conversation, Emmanuel Macron declared thatIsrael “has the right to defend itself against terrorism”. “Attacks against Israel and its citizens must stop, whether they are carried out by Iran or its auxiliaries in the region,” he declared, according to the Élysée.
“Weapons deliveries, the prolongation of the war in Gaza and its extension to Lebanon cannot produce the security expected by Israelis and everyone in the region,” the presidency finally insisted.
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