Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks on the occupied West Bank during his address to the UN General Assembly. Macron's comments were made in French and interpreted by the UN as criticizing Israel's actions in the West Bank. Netanyahu responded swiftly, labeling Macron's remarks as "grotesque absurdity".
Macron's comments sparked controversy, with Netanyahu's office releasing a statement that described the French president's remarks as "staggering". According to Macron, "Hamas was never very active in the West Bank", a statement that Netanyahu's office vehemently disputed. Netanyahu claimed that members of the Palestinian armed group carry out attacks against Jews almost daily in the West Bank.
A French diplomatic source responded to the criticism, suggesting that Macron's comments had been misinterpreted. The source explained that the French sentence spoken by Macron, "Le Hamas n’a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," actually meant "Hamas has never governed the West Bank." However, Netanyahu's office maintained that Macron's remarks were inaccurate and misleading.
Macron also addressed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip during his UN speech. He rejected US President Donald Trump's assertion that he had brokered a peace deal between the two parties. Despite a ceasefire agreement last October, violence has continued in the Gaza Strip, with almost daily Israeli strikes.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire, with Macron expressing concern over the lack of progress in addressing the crisis. He emphasized that the supposed peace had not led to improved humanitarian access, saying "Some boast of a supposed peace. But that peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second."
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, joined Netanyahu in denouncing Macron's remarks, describing them as "out of touch with reality". The criticism from Israel and the US highlights the ongoing tensions between the parties and the challenges of achieving a lasting peace in the region.
The controversy surrounding Macron's remarks underscores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the difficulties of finding a resolution. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains engaged in efforts to address the crisis and promote a peaceful resolution.
Key points
- Macron's comments on West Bank were criticized by Netanyahu as "grotesque absurdity"
- Netanyahu's office disputes Macron's claim that Hamas was not active in West Bank
- Macron rejects Trump's assertion of peace deal between Israel and Hamas
