French President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision to move toward recognizing a Palestinian state, insisting that doing so is the only way to “isolate Hamas” and respond to what he described as “a failure” of Israel’s military strategy in Gaza.
In an interview broadcast Thursday on Israel’s Channel 12 News with anchor Yonit Levi, Macron argued that this step should not be seen as rewarding terrorism, despite Israel’s objections and Hamas’s praise for the move.
Levi opened the conversation by highlighting Macron’s shift—from strongly siding with Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre to now pushing forward an initiative that many Israelis see as legitimizing Hamas.
Macron answered, “I think everybody here does respect and shares this trauma and infinite pain. We condemned the terrorist attack of Hamas. Our top priority remains the release of all hostages. We recognize the right of Israel to defend itself. But when Israel started to have a sort of permanent war in Gaza, we expressed a disagreement very respectfully but very clearly.”
The French leader argued that Israel’s military campaign is “totally counterproductive” and “completely destroying the image and the credibility of Israel, not just in the region but in public opinions everywhere.” He also denounced a recent Knesset decision that he claimed would “restore the colonization and the end of West Bank,” saying this move “has nothing to do with Hamas.”
Macron maintained that without a diplomatic solution, Palestinians are pushed toward groups with an “aggressive approach,” like Hamas.
He stressed, “The objective of Hamas has never been to make two states… They want an Islamistic state and they want especially to destroy Israel.” Macron said his plan was intended to give the Palestinian people a “legitimate perspective” separate from Hamas.
According to Macron, the Palestinian Authority recently sent a letter labeling the October 7 massacre as terrorism for the first time, while also committing to reforms, deradicalization, and a revised educational system. When Levi challenged him that similar commitments had been voiced since 1993, Macron responded, “Yes, but we never delivered collectively. When we don’t offer a political perspective, we just give the floor to those we offer a terrorist approach.”
Asked about whether the timing of recognition was appropriate while Israel is still reeling, Macron said he empathized but felt it was necessary “because precisely the approach of your government, some ministers especially, is to destroy the possibility of a two-state solution.”
He described the initiative as urgent, calling it “an emergency” and “probably… the last minute before proposing a two-state would become totally impossible.”
Macron also acknowledged that Israel had “very concrete and important results” in targeting Hamas leaders, but noted that the group has been able to replenish its ranks, leaving its manpower at the same level as October 7. “So this is a failure,” he said.
When questioned about potential economic measures against Israel, Macron replied, “if the Gaza City operation is pursued by the government, it’s clearly a debate we will need. Because I think this is a huge mistake, this is absolutely unacceptable, this is totally incompliant with international rules.” He emphasized that he would not call for a full boycott of Israel but would “refuse the access for some industrials or key people clearly involved in Gaza operations.”
Strains between Yerushalayim and Paris had already been escalating before Macron’s September 22 announcement at the UN General Assembly that France would formally recognize a Palestinian state, with Macron continuing to criticize Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza.
The French president has twice urged an arms embargo on Israel, arguing that halting “the export of weapons” used in Gaza and Lebanon was the only way to stop the battles with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Macron later suggested that Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive may constitute violations of international humanitarian law.
In late August, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sent Macron a letter in which he wrote that antisemitism had “surged” in France following Macron’s statement about Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu told Macron, “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.”
In response, Macron’s office rejected the claims, blasting Netanyahu’s charge as “abject” and “erroneous,” and declaring that France “protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.”
{Matzav.com}
