French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must acknowledge that the state of Israel was established by a UN decision, specifically referencing the 1947 UN General Assembly vote to partition Palestine. Macron's remarks were made during a closed-door Council of Ministers meeting and reflect ongoing tensions regarding Israel's military actions in Lebanon, particularly against Hezbollah. In response, Netanyahu asserted that Israel's statehood was achieved through military victory, not solely by UN resolutions, and he criticized calls for a ceasefire as ineffective for Israel's security. Macron's comments come amid deteriorating relations between France and Israel, particularly after recent Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, which Macron condemned as 'completely unacceptable.'
- The backdrop to Macron's statements includes heightened military activity in southern Lebanon, where Israel is conducting operations against Hezbollah. This situation has raised concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers stationed in the region, leading to calls for an immediate ceasefire from international leaders, including Macron. The French president has been vocal about the need for both Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate the conflict, emphasizing the humanitarian impact on civilians caught in the crossfire. The ongoing diplomatic tensions between Macron and Netanyahu have been exacerbated by differing views on military support and the approach to peace in the Middle East.
