On Tuesday, the French Presidency sharply criticized Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after he accused President Emmanuel Macron of fueling antisemitism in France by deciding to recognize a Palestinian state, according to AFP.
In a statement, Macron’s office described Netanyahu’s accusation as both “abject” and “erroneous,” insisting that France “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.” The statement added that a letter from Netanyahu containing the allegations “will not go unanswered.”
The French Presidency further emphasized that “this is a time for seriousness and responsibility, not for conflation and manipulation.”
AFP reported that Netanyahu’s letter claimed antisemitism had “surged” in France following Macron’s announcement last month that France intends to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September, which would make France the first G7 nation to take such a step.
In his message to Macron, Netanyahu wrote, “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace French Jews and encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets.”
France is home to the largest Jewish population in Europe. Data from the interior ministry shows that reported antisemitic incidents in France rose from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023, before slightly decreasing to 1,570 last year.
This dispute comes amid already strained relations between Israel and France, largely due to Macron’s persistent criticism of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Macron has twice urged the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel, arguing that “stopping the export of weapons” used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon is the only way to bring an end to the fighting.
Additionally, Macron warned that Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza could potentially violate international humanitarian law.
In another instance, the French President strongly condemned Netanyahu’s stance on humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling his policy “shameful” and suggesting that European countries should consider imposing stronger sanctions.
{Matzav.com}
Sen. Lindsey Graham that he believes President Donald Trump is prepared to unleash severe economic sanctions against Russia if President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming weeks.
Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee and spoke with Trump on Tuesday morning, has been urging the president for months to support his bipartisan sanctions package. The proposed legislation would levy steep tariffs on countries that are helping fund Russia’s war by continuing to purchase its oil, natural gas, uranium, and other key exports.
Although the bill currently has support from 85 senators, Trump has not yet endorsed it. Republican leadership has indicated they will not advance the measure without his backing.
“If we don’t have this thing moving in the right direction by the time we get back, then I think that plan B needs to kick in,” Graham said in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. Congress is currently in recess and scheduled to reconvene in September.
Graham’s conversation with Trump came less than a day after high-level meetings at the White House with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. Trump and the other participants sounded positive after the discussions, suggesting that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is expected to take place soon.
Still, Trump’s comments to Graham — one of his closest congressional allies — indicate growing pressure, not only on Putin but also on Trump himself to deliver results.
“Trump believes that if Putin doesn’t do his part, that he’s going to have to crush his economy. Because you’ve got to mean what you say,” Graham told reporters Tuesday in South Carolina.
As lawmakers prepare to return in September, the next several weeks could prove critical in determining whether Congress and U.S. allies will move forward independently if Trump does not act.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the lead Democrat working alongside Graham on the sanctions bill, said there is still “a lot of reason for skepticism and doubt” following the White House meetings, noting that Putin has avoided making any explicit commitments. Blumenthal warned that the Russian president may try to “rope-a-dope” Trump.
“The only way to bring Putin to the table is to show strength,” Blumenthal told the AP this week. “What Putin understands is force and pressure.”
Despite that, Republicans have shown little appetite for pushing forward without Trump’s approval. Before Congress adjourned for August recess, Republican leaders paused work on the sanctions package after Trump suggested it might not yet be necessary.
Asked Tuesday whether the bill should move ahead without Trump’s backing, Graham said, “the best way to do it is with him.”
“There will come a point where if it’s clear that Putin is not going to entertain peace, that President Trump will have to back up what he said he would do,” Graham added. “And the best way to do it is have congressional blessing.”
The proposed legislation would impose tariffs as high as 500% on nations like China and India, which together account for about 70% of Russia’s energy exports. The measure also has the support of several European leaders.
Many of those European officials left the White House on Monday sounding encouraged. Zelenskyy described the discussions with Trump as “an important step toward ending this war,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his expectations “were not just met, they were exceeded.”
However, little progress has been made on resolving the core issues preventing a ceasefire. The stalemate continues to favor Putin, whose forces are slowly but steadily advancing on the battlefield in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said after the White House meetings that Trump believes an agreement with Putin remains possible, though he noted that sanctions are “still very much on the table” should the negotiations collapse.
{Matzav.com}During an interview on Tuesday with conservative radio host Mark Levin, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke highly of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, describing him as a “war hero.”
Trump commended Netanyahu’s efforts in working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, stating, “He’s a good man, he’s in there fighting.”
“He’s in there fighting, they’re trying to put him in jail on top of everything else, how about that?” Trump added, referring to Netanyahu’s ongoing trial. “He’s a war hero, cause we worked together. He’s a war hero. I guess I am too. Nobody cares. I am too. I sent those planes.”
LISTEN IN FULL:
The President’s remark about “sending those planes” referred to his order in June to launch airstrikes against three key Iranian enrichment facilities.
Throughout the discussion, Trump also expressed frustration that he has not received proper acknowledgment for this and other recent actions aimed at easing international tensions.
The President further stated that Hamas “weren’t going to give back any hostages” and emphasized, “I’m the one that got all the hostages back.”
During the 2024 presidential campaign — which ultimately secured Trump’s second term — his relationship with Netanyahu was repaired after previous tensions that followed the 2020 election.
In a July 2024 meeting with Netanyahu, Trump stressed, “My relationship with Netanyahu was never bad.”
Back in April, Trump also stated that he and Netanyahu are “on the same side of every issue.”
Trump’s comments regarding Netanyahu’s trial are consistent with previous criticisms he has voiced about the legal proceedings.
In June, he posted on Truth Social, calling the case a “ridiculous Witch Hunt” and demanding either its dismissal or a pardon for Netanyahu. Just three days later, he followed up with another post reiterating the same message.
{Matzav.com}
