Israel's accusations against Emmanuel Macron are "a recurring way of exploiting anti-Semitism," notes a historian

Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, president of the Institute for Mediterranean and Middle East Research and Studies, recalls that the Israeli Prime Minister had also accused the UN of anti-Semitism.

"This is a recurring way of exploiting anti-Semitism," Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, president of the Institute for Research and Studies in the Mediterranean and the Middle East (iReMMO), said on franceinfo on Wednesday, August 20. The day before, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of "fueling the anti-Semitic fire" by supporting the two-state solution, while Emmanuel Macron has announced that he wants to recognize the State of Palestine as early as September.

"As soon as there is a position that he considers to be against Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu considers it an anti-Semitic position," notes Jean-Paul Chagnollaud. The Middle East specialist reminds franceinfo that this is not the first time the head of the Israeli government has been accused of anti-Semitism. In September 2024, before the United Nations General Assembly, he declared: "I tell you, until Israel, until the Jewish state is treated like other nations, until this anti-Semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be considered by righteous people as nothing more than a contemptuous farce."

"It was a year ago, in front of an assembly where there were many delegations who had left," recalls Jean-Paul Chagnollaud. "So, we are looking at something more global and very profound in this affair, that is to say a contempt for international relations which consist of establishing the principles of international law," analyzes the president of iReMMO.

In addition to France, Australia has also been accused of anti-Semitism by the Israeli Prime Minister. "When you know Benjamin Netanyahu, he's a classic," assures Jean-Paul Chagnollaud. "We're dealing with a figure who is sinking into a form of populism both internationally and domestically. Domestically, he's sinking into authoritarianism. So, it's also fundamentally serious for Israel," he asserts.