Benyamin Netanyahu – Emmanuel Macron: the three reasons behind the War of Words – L’Express

Conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon or Iran are no longer enough for him: this week, Benyamin Netanyahu seems determined to blur with the whole world. After violently attacked the Australian Prime Minister, guilty of having refused to grant a visa to an Israeli minister from the far right, the Hebrew State leader caused a diplomatic weapon pass with Emmanuel Macron, in a surfaced letter made public on August 19.

Netanyahu notably accuses the French president of encouraging the outbreak of anti-Semitic acts in France since October 7 and of playing the game of Hamas. “Your call to a Palestinian state fuels this anti-Semitic fire, it rewards the terror of Hamas, strengthens Hamas’ refusal to release hostages, encourages those who threaten French Jews and promotes hatred of Jews who now prowls in your streets,” wrote the Israeli Prime Minister, in a missive sent first to the France-President, then to the French President. “A return letter is in preparation,” said the Elysée, who has already castigated an Israeli analysis “erroneous, abject and [qui] will not remain unanswered “. Three main reasons led to this diplomatic escalation between Paris and Tel Aviv.

1/ The engine role of France for a Palestinian State

The resentment, on the Israeli side, is up to French diplomatic success: by announcing, on July 25, that Paris was preparing to recognize the Palestinian state in September, Emmanuel Macron provoked a real diplomatic tsunami. The United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have followed its steps, putting unique pressure on the Israeli government. “The role of France was essential,” said the former Palestinian diplomat Ghaa al-Mari in our columns in early August. It broke the taboo around a Palestinian state and took control in Europe. “

In his letter, Benyamin Netanyahu presses Emmanuel Macron to act against anti -Semitism before the Jewish New Year, on September 23, which – chance of the calendar – falls on the same day as the closure of the General Assembly of the United Nations. It was on the occasion of this diplomatic rally in New York that many Western countries have planned to recognize the State of Palestine. A key moment for Paris, at the origin of this initiative with Saudi Arabia, and the occasion for a new Franco-Israeli show.

2/ Israel and the strategy of the only against all

The main reproach made by Netanyahu to Macron concerns anti -Semitism: the announcement of the upcoming recognition of the Palestinian state would have fueled “anti -Semitic fire” in France. And the Israeli Prime Minister takes for example the degradation of the premises of the airline EL AL, an anti-Semitic aggression in Livry-Gargan or even attacks “against rabbis in the streets of Paris”, without more precision. He could undoubtedly have added the slaughter, on August 14, of a tree tribute to Ilan Halimi, a young Frenchman killed and tortured in 2006 because Jewish …

The Israeli Prime Minister is right to note and denounce the anti -Semitic wave that has been swapping over Europe and France since October 7, 2023. The figures are final. On the other hand, making the French authorities responsible for this hatred and this violence constitutes an unprecedented attack on the part of the Hebrew State. Behind the scenes, Israeli diplomats and leaders have always recognized the work accomplished by France to combat anti -Semitism and protect places of worship. “The French authorities do not let anything pass, it is one of the few countries where leaders take very concrete and massive measures to defend their Jewish community,” recognized an Israeli diplomat last year.

Benyamin Netanyahu’s accusations on anti -Semitism are primarily intended for his electoral base and his allies of the radical Israeli right. They go hand in hand with a denigration campaign that targets France, the important Muslim community of which is the subject of many amalgams. A way, too, to weld its citizens and to sweep out external criticism. “The Israelis who were born and grew up in Israel are struggling to understand the real meaning of anti -Semitism, since they cannot have been confronted with them, recently explained to us an Israeli diplomat who made the essentials of his career out of his borders. They assimilate any criticism of their country with anti -Semitism, that is why the accusations of French diplomacy against Also go wrong and cause an escalation. “

3/ Relations tense for two years

This fiery correspondence between Benyamin Netanyahu and Emmanuel Macron is only the last episode of a series of diplomatic friction for two years. After October 7, the French president went to Israel for a visit filled with emotions, marked by an “unwavering commitment” for the security of the Hebrew state. In February 2024, in Invalides, France will also be the only country in the world to organize a national ceremony of homage to the dead of October 7.

The wind began to shoot during the issue of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu and its Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, on May 20, 2024: the United States, the United Kingdom or even Germany condemn this decision, when France maintains its support for the independence of the ICC. A position deemed “balanced” in Paris, which goes wrong in Israel. “It is important that you say loud and clear that the prosecutor of the Attorney General is shameful and scandalous, and therefore unacceptable for you and for the French government,” said the Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, during an evening in Paris on May 21 in the presence of his French counterpart.

Regularly, Emmanuel Macron denounces the brutality of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and deplores the absence of any diplomatic solution. His calls to the ceasefire remain dead letters. In June 2024, after a bombing targeting a refugee camp in Gaza, the French president asked personally that Israeli companies were denied access to Eurosath, the large French armaments fair. This decision will be canceled in justice, but diplomatic evil is made.

In October 2024, the French head of state went so far as to claim the delivery of delivery of certain weapons to Israel. “If we call for a cease-fire, consistency is not to provide the weapons of war,” said the French president, before prohibiting the presence of Israeli industrialists at the Euronaval arms show a few days later, then at Le Bourget this year. In recent days, France would have blocked the renewal of visas of security managers of the EL AL Airline, based in Paris and responsible for controlling passengers before the flights to Tel Aviv. The reason: advanced and systematic inspections of French diplomats before boarding in Roissy.

If diplomatic incidents are multiplying, behind the scenes, Israeli officials are much more understanding with France, described as precious on the Lebanese and important file for the defense of Israel in the face of Iran. “With France, there are ups and downs, there is little, a Netanyahu advisor. You call it the policy of ‘at the same time’, for us it is rather a bag of knots. But ultimately, France remains very important for Israel and our cooperation is maintained.”