‘A disgrace’: Netanyahu bashes France’s Macron for urging arms embargo on Israel

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron (L), as they hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem on October 24, 2023. (Christophe Ena/Pool/AFP)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron (L), as they hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem on October 24, 2023. (Christophe Ena/Pool/AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for an arms embargo on Israel this week is a “disgrace,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in an English-language statement directed at the French leader.

“Today, Israel is defending itself on seven fronts against the enemies of civilization,” he says, pointing at Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side,” Netanyahu insists.

“Yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel,” he continues.

“Shame on them.”

Netanyahu asks rhetorically whether Iran is imposing an arms embargo on its proxies.

“Of course not,” he responds. “This axis of terror stands together.”

“But countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel,” Netanyahu continues. “What a disgrace!”

Netanyahu promises that Israel will win “with or without their support.”

“But their shame will continue long after the war is won.”

As he often does, Netanyahu argues that Israel is defending civilization against those who seek to impose a dark age of fanaticism on all of us.

“Rest assured, Israel will fight until the battle is won — for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world.”

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