The leaders of France and Israel exchanged tense public statements on Saturday night after French President Emmanuel Macron called for other countries to stop arming the Israeli military for its war in Gaza. The comments drew fierce condemnation from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilised countries should be standing firmly by Israel's side," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office.
"Yet, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them."
In a video posted on social media and addressed directly to Macron, Netanyahu called such positions "a disgrace".
"Israel will win with or without their support," the Israeli premier said. "But their shame will continue long after the war is won."
Netanyahu was speaking after Macron told French radio that "the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza".
"If you call for a ceasefire, it's only consistent that you do not supply weapons of war," the president said in an interview with France Inter, specifying that France does not supply Israel with offensive arms.
France's Macron urges halt to arms exports destined for Israel's use in Gaza
His comments appeared directed at the United States, Israel's biggest weapons supplier by far, which has continued to ship arms despite acknowledging they have been used against civilians.
Qatar, a key mediator in the talks on a ceasefire in Gaza, said Macron's statement was "an important and appreciated step towards stopping the war".
Jordan also welcomed his remarks and stressed "the importance of imposing a complete ban on the export of weapons to Israel" and "real consequences" for the country's actions.
'Excessive' remarks
Netanyahu's sharp response prompted the French presidency to release another statement later on Saturday, describing France as a "steadfast friend of Israel".
It nonetheless called the Israeli prime minister's reaction "excessive and detached from the friendship between France and Israel".
Speaking to broadcaster Franceinfo on Sunday, Israel's ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, said his country remained confident of Paris's ongoing support.
"France has been at our side from the beginning," he said, noting Macron's defence of Israel after the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas last year as well as Iran's missile strikes earlier this month.
While Paris has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, however, Zarka insisted that Israel would continue to wage war on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon until their military capacities were neutralised.
Macron condemns Iran's attacks, mobilises French military in Middle East
Lebanon operation criticised
Macron criticised Netanyahu's decision to send troops into ground operations in Lebanon in further comments to a summit of French-speaking countries.
While both Paris and Washington had called for a ceasefire, he said in his closing speech on Saturday, "I regret that Prime Minister Netanyahu has made another choice, has taken this responsibility, in particular, for ground operations on Lebanese soil."
The members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), including France and Canada, have called for an "immediate and lasting" ceasefire in Lebanon, he added.
Macron nonetheless reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence, and said that on Monday he would be meeting relatives of Franco-Israelis held hostage in Gaza. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will also meet the families of French-Israeli victims.
Monday marks the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks that sparked the war in Gaza, a conflict that now threatens to engulf the wider region.
(with AFP)
