Macron reminded that Israel was created by a UN decision: Netanyahu’s reaction followed

“Israel was established by a decision of the United Nations (UN),” French President Emmanuel Macron reminded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This statement comes after Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres persona non grata. Subsequently, Netanyahu stated that UN peacekeeping forces must be evacuated from southern Lebanon.

During a French government meeting, Macron also called on the Israeli government to adhere to UN decisions and resolutions in the context of Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

Referring to the UN decision from November 29, 1947, which paved the way for the establishment of Israel on Palestinian territory, Macron said: “Netanyahu should not forget that his country was established by a UN decision.”

He added that “this is not the time to ignore UN resolutions.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office responded to Macron’s statement. In a statement, it was claimed that Israel was not established by a UN decision, and it further stated:

“A reminder to the French President: The State of Israel was not established by a UN decision, but by a victory achieved through the blood of heroic warriors in the War of Independence. Many of these warriors were Holocaust survivors, including survivors of the Vichy regime in France.”

The statement also claimed that the UN has made “many antisemitic” decisions and that the purpose of these decisions is “to deny Israel the right to exist and defend itself.”

It should be noted that Israel attacked the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in which French soldiers served, and France condemned Israel’s “clear violation” of international law.

There have also been tensions between Macron and Netanyahu regarding the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel. Macron called for a halt to arms deliveries that Israel could use in its attacks on Gaza.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, responded to Macron’s statements, claiming that he is fighting for “civilization” against Iran, and described the calls from Western leaders for an arms embargo on Israel as “shameful.”