A telephone conversation to try to pacify the situation. Sunday afternoon, Emmanuel Macron spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to resolve what could appear to be the beginnings of a diplomatic crisis. “On the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist offensive against Israel, he expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people,” said the Elysée, specifying that the president had expressed “his conviction that the time of ceasefire has now come.” A look back at a high-tension weekend against the backdrop of arms deliveries.
Act I: “Stop delivering weapons”
Saturday afternoon, on the sidelines of a France Inter program devoted to the Francophonie, Emmanuel Macron spoke out in favor of stopping arms deliveries to Israel. “I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to carry out the fighting in Gaza,” insists the head of state. This declaration does not concern France which does not deliver any, but its allies, starting with the United States.
US President Joe Biden has so far refused to use arms against Israel, apart from suspending a delivery of bombs in May. The United Kingdom, for its part, took a first step in September by announcing the suspension of around thirty arms export licenses out of 350, considering that there was “a risk” that they would be used in violation of international humanitarian law.
More generally, Emmanuel Macron deplored that the lines are not moving in Gaza, despite all the diplomatic efforts made to obtain a ceasefire. He particularly regretted, during the closing press conference of the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris, Benjamin Netanyahu’s “choice” to intervene militarily in Lebanon, while reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself.
Act II: Netanyahu’s Wrath
The reaction of the Israeli Prime Minister was not long in coming. “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should stand firmly with Israel,” he said in a two-minute video, titled “My Message to Macron” posted on social networks. Before adding: “Yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. They should be ashamed.
Benjamin Netanyahu assured that Israel would win even without their support. “But their shame will last long after victory. Rest assured that Israel will fight until the battle is won, for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world,” he said.
Act III: A telephone interview but fixed positions
Faced with this anger and in an attempt to ease tensions, the Elysée deplored, in the evening, Israel’s “excessive” words and recalled that France “is Israel’s unwavering friend”. A telephone interview was organized this Sunday. Exchange during which everyone reaffirmed their positions. Emmanuel Macron and Benyamin Netanyahu discussed “the situation in the Middle East, with complete frankness and respect for the friendship between France and Israel,” said the Elysée. And to clarify: “The two leaders accept their differences of views as well as their desire to each be well understood by the other.” Which means, in diplomatic language, “we broke the ice without finding common ground”.
A comparison of the press releases leaves little doubt regarding the antagonistic positions of the two countries. “We expect friends of Israel to support it and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,” declared Benjamin Netanyahu, 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,” his office reported.
For its part, the Elysée indicates that Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s “unwavering commitment” to the security of Israel but also insisted on the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. . “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 said.