President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Oct. 18, 2022. (Credit: Mohammed Badra/AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed on Sunday during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu France's ''unwavering commitment'' to Israel's security but also stressed the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, announced the Elysee.
''On the eve of the first anniversary of Hamas's terrorist offensive against Israel, he expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people,'' the French presidency stated. Emmanuel Macron also said, ''I believe the time for a ceasefire has now come.''
The two leaders held this phone conversation on the eve of the commemorations of the Oct. 7 attacks and following a heated exchange after Emmanuel Macron called for halting the delivery of weapons to Israel that could be used in the war in Gaza.
They discussed ''the situation in the Middle East, frankly and with respect for the friendship between France and Israel,'' said the French presidency. ''The two leaders acknowledge their differences of opinion, as well as their desire to be well understood by each other,'' it added.
The President reiterated to the Israeli Prime Minister that France's commitment to Israel's security is unwavering and reminded him of the mobilization of French military resources in its defense during the attacks carried out by Iran in recent months.
Emmanuel Macron had provoked anger from Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday by stating that the ''priority'' is now for ''a political solution'' and ''to stop delivering weapons for the fighting in Gaza,'' while specifying that France does not provide such weapons itself.
During their phone conversation, Emmanuel Macron stated that Israel ''has the right to defend itself against terrorism.''
''Attacks against Israel and its citizens must cease, whether they come from Iran or its proxies in the region,'' said the French president. ''The delivery of weapons, the prolongation of the war in Gaza and its extension to Lebanon cannot produce the security sought by Israelis and by all in the region,'' he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Emmanuel Macron on Sunday that his country expects ''support'' from France and ''not restrictions,'' following the French president's call to halt arms deliveries to Israel.
''We expect friends of Israel to support it and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,'' Netanyahu said during a phone conversation with Macron, 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.
Israel is engaged on several fronts, at war with Hamas in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where it has been conducting ground operations since Monday. The country also threatens to retaliate against a massive missile attack from Iran that occurred last Tuesday.
