Netanyahu meets Macron as Iran threatens retaliation against Israel

PARIS — Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived on Thursday evening at the Elysée Palace in Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron where Iran was expected to top the agenda.

Before boarding his flight the Israeli Prime Minister said that his meeting with Macron would focus on the joint efforts to counter "Iran’s aggression and its drive toward a nuclear weapon.” Iran had threatened revenge against Israel, blaming it for the drone attack against the nuclear facility in Isfahan earlier this week.

Netanyahu also commented on Chad’s new embassy in Israel, which opened earlier on Thursday in the presence of Chadian President Mahamat Deby in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu said that he now aspires to enlarge the circle of the Abraham Accords to more countries in the region. The meeting in Paris is Netanyahu’s second visit abroad since taking office, after a trip to Jordan last week where he met King Abdullah.

Israel's ambassador to France Yael German did not welcome Netanyahu upon his arrival at the Paris airport. German, who had served as minister and Knesset member on behalf of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, had resigned her position end of December, when Netanyahu established his right wing government. Still, German serves as ambassador until her departure from the French capita later this month. She will not be accompanying Netanyahu in his meetings in Paris.

On Friday, Netanyahu is set to meet with businesspeople and leaders of the Jewish community. He will return to Israel Saturday night after the end of the Sabbath.