Israel Bars Macron’s Visit Over France’s Plan to Recognize Palestinian State
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that his country would never accept French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit as long as France plans to recognize the Palestinian State, according to Arab News.
Saar also told France’s top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot in a phone call that “there is no room” for a presidential visit “as long as France persists in its initiative and efforts that harm Israel’s interests.”
Moreover, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed a request by Macron to make a brief visit ahead of the UN General Assembly later this month, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
“Israel strives for good relations with France, but France must respect the Israeli position when it comes to issues essential to its security and future,” Saar said.
The relations between France and Israel have deteriorated since Macron revealed his plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the UN meeting this month.
UK, Canada, Malta, Belgium, Australia and other Western governments have announced similar plans.
Israel’s Response to Macron’s Plan
In May, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel planned to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the occupied West Bank, according to Al-Arabiya.
Katz’s remarks followed Israel’s announcement of the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land,” Katz said.
Katz also noted that the new settlements would be a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but Israel will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground.
A Call for Allowing Free Press into Gaza
In July, France called on the Israeli government to allow independent and foreign press into Gaza Strip amid mounting concerns of famine after 23 months of war, according to Le Monde.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stressed the need of allowing free press into the besieged Strip to “show what is happening there and to bear witness,” during an interview from eastern Ukraine.
“Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists,” Barrot said.
He also noted that the Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with were in danger. Thus, he urged Israel to allow them and their families to leave Gaza.
When asked whether France would take a step to evacuate them, Barrot said that France was “addressing the issue.”
“In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world,” it said. But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families,” he added.
Call for Immediate Ceasefire
France has also called for an “immediate ceasefire” after Israel announced the expansion of its military operations to the central city of Deir El-Balah.
“There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army’s military operations in Gaza,” Barrot said.
He also described the move as “an offensive” that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and “cause new forced displacements of populations.”
Moreover, Macron accused Israeli Netanyahu’s government of committing “shameful and disgraceful,” actions in Gaza.
In a special television appearance broadcast on the TF1 channel, Macron noted that it is not for Netanyahu to decide whether this constitutes genocide, but rather for historians.
“What Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is doing today in Gaza is unacceptable. It is shameful and disgraceful,” Macron said.
During the interview, Macron stated that he was “one of the few leaders who visited the Egypt-Gaza border.”
He also described the situation as “one of the most distressing sights I’ve ever witnessed.”
Gaza War
Currently, Israel is facing regional and international pressure to put an end to its war in the Palestinian enclave and allow the delivery of more aid.
At the same time, the Israeli government has been facing harsh criticism from countries, nations, and individuals who considered the war as a genocide or ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 64,200 Palestinians and wounded over 161,500, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Dozens of Gazans including children have lost their souls due to malnutrition throughout the war that caused unthinkable humanitarian conditions.
Rights group Amnesty International has accused Israel of enacting a “deliberate policy” of starvation in Gaza and “systematically destroying the health, well-being and social fabric of Palestinian life.”
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