Macron Faces Backlash from Netanyahu Over Palestinian Statehood Remarks

French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statement about potentially recognizing a Palestinian state has triggered strong criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair Netanyahu.

In a statement released Sunday, Netanyahu accused Macron of making a “grave mistake” by supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state “in the heart of our land,” which he claimed seeks Israel’s destruction. Netanyahu further criticized Palestinian leadership for failing to condemn the October 7, 2023 attack, which he described as the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

The Israeli PM also targeted France’s own territorial integrity, arguing that France resists giving independence to regions like Corsica, New Caledonia, and French Guiana — places he claims pose no threat to France’s existence.

Yair Netanyahu intensified the backlash by launching a social media tirade on platform “X,” using harsh language against Macron and demanding that France grant independence to its overseas territories — though he mistakenly referred to French Guiana as “French Guinea.”

President Macron, while reaffirming France’s support for peace, clarified that recognizing a Palestinian state is aligned with both Palestinian and Israeli aspirations for peaceful coexistence, and that France is working with international partners toward a sustainable resolution.