Even for a leader who is an expert in the balance of power in international relations, even with his allies, the message sent on Saturday, October 5, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the speech of French President Emmanuel Macron, is evident. from the ordinary.
Speaking of detailing the “seven fronts” in which, according to him, his country is involved, from Gaza to Lebanon, through Yemen and the West Bank, the Prime Minister lost his temper and concluded: “And yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes on Israel. (…) What a shame for them! (…) Israel will win with or without your support. But their shame will linger long after this war has been won. »
“Let’s return to a political solution”
Earlier on Saturday, the French president declared on France Inter: “ I think that today the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop handing over weapons. [à Israël] to lead the fighting in Gaza. »
On Sunday afternoon, the two leaders had a telephone exchange “in all honesty”according to a press release from the presidency. Emmanuel Macron recalled the commitment “unwavering” of France in favor of Israel’s security, but also recalled the need for a ceasefire in Lebanon, while arms deliveries cannot, according to him, “produce the security expected by Israelis.” The Israeli Prime Minister, for his part, estimated in a press release that, in the current circumstances, “We could expect support from Israel’s friends, rather than seeing them impose restrictions that constitute support for the Iranian axis of evil. »
By evoking the cessation of arms shipments, Emmanuel Macron brought to center stage the issue of the war waged by Israel in the Palestinian enclave, in retaliation for the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, as demonstrated by the latest events : Israeli bombings in Lebanon. and the Iranian attacks against Israel – have been relegated to the background.
This presidential outburst also reflected fatigue and a feeling of helplessness in the face of the way in which the Jewish State has been carrying out its military operations in Gaza for a year. Perhaps the Head of State also wanted, for the sake of the typical balance of diplomacy “at the same time” presidential, corrects the sentiment aroused after the Iranian attacks on Tuesday the 1stAhem October against Israel also pronounced an alignment of the Hebrew State against Tehran. In this context, Westerners, including France, continue to urge Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint in his response.
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