In an escalating international conflict, Israel launched a series of diplomatic attacks next month against some of its Western allies preparing to recognize the Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent two strongly worded letters to French and Australian leaders, accusing both men of refueling anti-Semitism in their decision to recognize the Palestinian state. In both letters, Netanyahu cited anti-Semitism and anti-Israel events that have occurred in recent months, linking them to the government’s position on the Gaza War and the Palestinian state.
“The Palestinian national call is fueling this anti-Semitism fire,” Netanyahu wrote on Tuesday to French President Emmanuel Macron in a letter obtained by CNN.
“It’s not diplomacy, it’s temperament. It rewards Hamas’ fears, strengthens Hamas’ refusal to release hostages, sparks people threatening French Jews, and encourages Jews to stalke your streets.”
The intense letter caused a sharp responsibility from the Palace of Elysees. It pointed out that Macron first learned of the Israeli letter through the media before he received it through diplomatic channels.
France “protects and always protects his fellow Jewish faith,” Elisey Palace said in a statement. “These times require seriousness and responsibility, not confusion or manipulation.”
Tension is a sign of a growing bay between Netanyahu and his western allies. Many have become increasingly critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, destroying vast strips of territory, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis there.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said last week that Netanyahu had “lost a conspiracy,” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen told the Zillands Posten newspaper, “Netanyahu is now a matter of his own.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister also denounced Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling him a “weak politician” after his government canceled a visa for far-right lawmakers from Netanyahu’s governing coalition.
Australia and France are two of the latest Western countries to announce plans to recognize the Palestinian state. Canada and Portugal have also announced similar intentions. Next month, they will join more than 140 other countries already recognizing the Palestinian state.
The UK has conditionally stated that it will recognize the Palestinian state if Israel fails to meet the criteria that includes agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu called for Australian and French leaders to set deadlines for action against anti-Semitic “cancer” and “action” before the Jewish New Year on September 23rd.
This date coincides with the opening of high-level debates at the UN General Assembly, which is expected to recognize the Palestinian state.
France says the move is intended to revive the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and bring peace to the region, but Israel and the US call Hamas’ terrifying rewards that retreat only efforts for peace.
Tensions with Israel have been similarly worse since Canberra announced its intention to recognize the Palestinian state in June following the imposition of sanctions on Israeli right ministers Bezarel Sumotrich and Itamar Ben Gwil. The crisis deepened this week after Australian Home Minister Tony Burke denied an entry visa for another far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sarl canceled the residence visa of Australian representatives in the Palestinian authorities and directed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to scrutinize all official requests for visas to Israel.
Netanyahu later attacked Australian Prime Minister Albanese on social media, saying, “History remembers Albanese about what he is: a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australian Jews.”
Albanese spoke with a local reporter Wednesday and said he “personally not taking it.” He said, “I treat leaders of other countries with respect and engage them in a diplomatic way.”
Burke rebutted Netanyahu’s “weak” accusations, telling public broadcasters that “strength is not measured by the number of people who can blow up or the number of hungry children.”
