French President Emmanuel Macron has reminded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was founded through a United Nations resolution, urging him to respect the organization’s decisions as tensions between France and Israel escalate.
During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Macron emphasized that Israel’s creation in 1948 resulted from a UN decision, stressing the importance of adhering to international resolutions.
“Mr. Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a decision of the UN,” Macron stated, referencing the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution that proposed the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.
He urged Israel to uphold UN decisions, particularly as it continues military operations in southern Lebanon, an area where UN peacekeepers are stationed.
Macron’s comments reflect increasing frustration over Israeli actions, particularly its ongoing military operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon. He also reiterated France’s stance that halting the export of weapons to Israel, used in these regions, is essential to ending the conflicts.
France has repeatedly condemned Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which include a French contingent.
Netanyahu swiftly responded to Macron’s remarks, challenging the narrative of Israel’s founding. In a statement, Netanyahu said, “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.”
Netanyahu also rejected calls for a unilateral ceasefire in Lebanon, saying such a move would only restore the previous status quo without addressing the security threat posed by Hezbollah.
He stressed the need for a buffer zone along Israel’s northern border, free from Hezbollah’s presence, as essential for Israeli security.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu clarified to President Macron that Israel would not agree to any arrangement that does not ensure Hezbollah is disarmed and prevented from rearming,” a statement from his office said.
Netanyahu also called on the UN to reposition the 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, including 700 French soldiers, stationed in southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of using them as “human shields.”
The tensions between France and Israel come as the international community watches closely, with Macron’s criticism adding to growing pressure on Israel to address concerns about its military strategy and its adherence to international law.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Google News, Facebook and Instagram.Support independent Islamic website.
Support our mission to spread Islamic knowledge. Your donation helps our volunteer writers and infrastructure. Contribute now.
