Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today (Tuesday) with French President Emmanuel Macron and made it clear that Israel strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu said such a move would be “a huge prize for terror.”
“An overwhelming majority of the Israeli public is firmly opposed”
Netanyahu pointed out that not a single Palestinian body – including the Palestinian Authority – has condemned the massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7. He added that the Palestinian Authority continues to promote hatred, educate toward Israel’s destruction, and pay salaries to those who murder Jews.
Netanyahu also warned that a Palestinian state established near Israeli cities would quickly become a hub of terror under Iranian control. He stressed, “An overwhelming majority of the Israeli public is firmly opposed – and this has been my consistent policy over the years.”
The Macron tweet and Netanyahu’s clarification
The conversation between Netanyahu and Macron took place against the backdrop of a tweet posted by the French President earlier this week, in which he called for the creation of a Palestinian state: “This is France’s position, and it is clear – yes to peace. Yes to Israel’s security. Yes to a Palestinian state without Hamas.”
Following the tweet, Yair Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s son, sharply criticized Macron, sparking a public uproar. The Prime Minister later issued a clarification: “I love my son Yair – a true Zionist who cares about the future of the country. Like every citizen, he is entitled to his personal opinion. President Macron is gravely mistaken in continuing to push for a Palestinian state in the heart of our land – a state whose sole purpose is the destruction of the State of Israel.”
