Macron Rebukes Netanyahu: Antisemitism “Must Not Be Weaponised” Amid Gaza War

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, sharply rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations that France was fueling antisemitism, calling the claims “unacceptable” and “an offence to France as a whole.”

In an open letter published in several French newspapers, Macron stressed that Paris was deploying “everything in our power” to combat antisemitism, but warned that the issue must not be used for political leverage. “The fight against antisemitism must not be weaponized and will not fuel any discord between Israel and France,” he wrote.

Macron also linked his response to Israel’s war in Gaza, urging Netanyahu to halt the offensive. “I solemnly appeal to you to end the desperate race of a murderous and illegal permanent war in Gaza, causing indignity for your country and placing your people in a deadlock,” he stated.

The exchange followed Netanyahu’s mid-August letter, in which he accused Macron of encouraging antisemitism by pledging to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September. “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement,” Netanyahu argued.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left more than 62,000 people dead—mostly women and children, and over 158,000 wounded, according to local health authorities.