Netanyahu Clashes with Macron Regarding the Origins of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed displeasure with French President Emmanuel Macron over remarks regarding the formation of Israel. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to French President Emmanuel Macron's comments regarding the establishment of Israel, expressing his discontent with the French leader's remarks.
During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Macron reportedly stated, “Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a UN decision,” referencing the UN General Assembly resolution from 1947 which proposed the partitioning of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
According to an attendee who spoke to AFP, Macron also mentioned that “this is not the time to break away from UN decisions,” in relation to Israel's military actions against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. His comments came amid ongoing UN calls for Israel to cease hostilities, particularly following incidents where UN peacekeepers were injured.
In response, Netanyahu asserted that Israel's founding was achieved through the “blood” of its soldiers during the Arab–Israeli War of 1948. This conflict erupted after the rejection of the UN resolution by Palestinian factions, leading to a year of hostilities that resulted in a Jewish victory.
Netanyahu emphasized, “A reminder to the president of France: it was not the UN resolution that established the State of Israel, but rather the victory achieved in the War of Independence with the blood of heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors – including from the Vichy regime in France.” Following these exchanges, Netanyahu and Macron spoke by phone, where the Israeli leader communicated his refusal to consider a “unilateral ceasefire” in Lebanon, as outlined by his office.
Tensions have been escalating between Macron and Netanyahu since last week when the French president advocated for an end to Western arms sales to Israel, arguing that it was the only way to compel the Israeli government to halt military operations in both Gaza and Lebanon. Macron accused Israel of “deliberately” placing the UN peacekeeping force, which includes around 700 French troops, in dangerous situations.
Netanyahu labeled Macron’s proposal for an arms embargo as “shameful,” asserting that Israel would prevail “with or without” Western assistance. He also called on the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from Lebanon, alleging that Hezbollah was using them as “human shields.” However, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated on Monday that the peacekeepers would remain in their current locations.
Previously, Israel stirred international controversy by declaring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata after he criticized the expanding conflict in the region and called for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz justified this decision by citing Guterres' ongoing “anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli behavior.” In response, more than 100 UN member states expressed their support for the Secretary-General through a letter. Guterres clarified to the UN council following Israel's ban that it “should have been obvious” he condemned Iran’s aggression against the Jewish state.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Macron reportedly stated, “Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a UN decision,” referencing the UN General Assembly resolution from 1947 which proposed the partitioning of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
According to an attendee who spoke to AFP, Macron also mentioned that “this is not the time to break away from UN decisions,” in relation to Israel's military actions against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. His comments came amid ongoing UN calls for Israel to cease hostilities, particularly following incidents where UN peacekeepers were injured.
In response, Netanyahu asserted that Israel's founding was achieved through the “blood” of its soldiers during the Arab–Israeli War of 1948. This conflict erupted after the rejection of the UN resolution by Palestinian factions, leading to a year of hostilities that resulted in a Jewish victory.
Netanyahu emphasized, “A reminder to the president of France: it was not the UN resolution that established the State of Israel, but rather the victory achieved in the War of Independence with the blood of heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors – including from the Vichy regime in France.” Following these exchanges, Netanyahu and Macron spoke by phone, where the Israeli leader communicated his refusal to consider a “unilateral ceasefire” in Lebanon, as outlined by his office.
Tensions have been escalating between Macron and Netanyahu since last week when the French president advocated for an end to Western arms sales to Israel, arguing that it was the only way to compel the Israeli government to halt military operations in both Gaza and Lebanon. Macron accused Israel of “deliberately” placing the UN peacekeeping force, which includes around 700 French troops, in dangerous situations.
Netanyahu labeled Macron’s proposal for an arms embargo as “shameful,” asserting that Israel would prevail “with or without” Western assistance. He also called on the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from Lebanon, alleging that Hezbollah was using them as “human shields.” However, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated on Monday that the peacekeepers would remain in their current locations.
Previously, Israel stirred international controversy by declaring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres persona non grata after he criticized the expanding conflict in the region and called for a ceasefire following Iran’s attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz justified this decision by citing Guterres' ongoing “anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli behavior.” In response, more than 100 UN member states expressed their support for the Secretary-General through a letter. Guterres clarified to the UN council following Israel's ban that it “should have been obvious” he condemned Iran’s aggression against the Jewish state.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
