What is extent of France-Israel rift as Macron calls for arms embargo?
Israel and France are not yet in a diplomatic crisis, but the exchange of accusations between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu does not bode well for bilateral relations.
PARIS — French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Israel Monday after a stop in Beirut and met with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate over the Gaza war and the ground incursion into Lebanon.
In an interview that aired Saturday on a French radio show, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a cease-fire in Lebanon and said countries should stop exporting weapons to Israel for use in Gaza.
“It is difficult to understand what drove Macron to make his statement against the exports of arms to Israel just two days before Oct. 7," French reporter Laurent Hauben told Al-Monitor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Macron’s statement, "As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel's side. Yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them."
