Emmanuel Macron reminds Benjamin Netanyahu of the UN origins of the State of Israel

15 October 2024 / Interviews

On October 15, 2024, during the Council of Ministers, Emmanuel Macron made a statement that could aggravate diplomatic tensions between France and Israel. According to information from the Le Parisien, confirmed by several participants, the French president reminded Benjamin Netanyahu that "his country was created by a decision of the UN." This remark, not intended to be made public, comes in a context of increasingly tense relations between the two leaders, particularly because of the situation in South Lebanon.

Tensions in South Lebanon and criticism of Israel

The French president's statements come as the situation in southern Lebanon is marked by incidents between Israeli forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In recent days, repeated Israeli fire has targeted positions of this peacekeeping force, injuring several peacekeepers. On Friday, October 11, Emmanuel Macron had already condemned these actions, deeming it "completely unacceptable" that UNIFIL was "deliberately" targeted by Israeli forces. The president then warned that "France will not tolerate any further firing."

Relations between Emmanuel Macron and Benjamin Netanyahu have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. On October 6, the two heads of state spoke by telephone, but the conversation, described as "frank" by the Élysée, revealed deep disagreements. Macron had notably called for a halt to arms deliveries to Israel, used in military operations in Gaza, a request that had provoked a strong reaction from Netanyahu, who had denounced this position as "shameful."

A reminder of UN resolutions

By evoking the UN origin of the creation of the State of Israel, Emmanuel Macron intends to recall the importance of respecting international law and United Nations resolutions, particularly in a context of conflict. The partition plan for Palestine adopted in November 1947 by the UN General Assembly had indeed allowed the creation of a Jewish state, but also an Arab state, the latter having never seen the light of day.

A delicate diplomatic posture

Since the beginning of the recent tensions between Israel and Lebanon, Emmanuel Macron seems to oscillate between a firm condemnation of anti-Semitism and the attacks of October 7, and a desire to distance himself from the Israel-United States axis. This is notably manifested by strong diplomatic decisions, such as the exclusion of Israel from the Eurosatory Defense Fair and support for an arms embargo on the Hebrew state. By calling for strict compliance with UN resolutions, Macron seeks to strengthen the role of international law in the management of the conflict, while sparing his domestic political support.

This statement marks a new turning point in Franco-Israeli relations, already fragile, and could have repercussions on France's foreign policy in the region.