Benjamin Netanyahu's accusatory letter had leaked to the press even before it reached the Elysée Palace. French President Emmanuel Macron's reply was first delivered directly, in what he described as an act of "basic courtesy," to the Israeli prime minister's office before being made public on Tuesday, August 26, in the afternoon.

The six-page letter was nonetheless firm, aiming to dismantle the Israeli leader's argument that France's announced recognition of the State of Palestine would fuel the "antisemitic fire."

First, Macron condemned the accusation of antisemitism and its use by Netanyahu himself. "The fight against antisemitism must not be weaponized and will not fuel any discord between Israel and France," the president wrote. He then highlighted his commitment to combating this scourge. The Elysée Palace has acknowledged that antisemitism has increased since October 7, 2023, the date of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli territory that triggered Israel's deadly war on Gaza, but argued that the increase was less pronounced than in other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. "Protecting France's Jewish citizens from the rise in antisemitism has been an absolute priority of mine from day one. This is France's responsibility, and all government services are mobilized to that end," Macron wrote.

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