Netanyahu hails Macron’s position on Iran

France is supportive of Israel’s policies to counter Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Sunday.

Iran is attempting to entrench itself militarily in Syria and build missile factories there, Netanyahu tells reporters at the Israeli embassy in Paris, moments after concluding a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

“We’re determined to prevent this, and we found an open ear and a supportive attitude,” Netanyahu says.

The prime minister hails Macron as one of few Western leaders who vocally speaks out against Iranian acts of aggression in Syria and Lebanon. Netanyahu says he and the French president “agreed on many strategic issues.”

Netanyahu says Israel acts to protect its interests in the region, hinting at reported airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon to prevent Iranian efforts to establish itself militarily there. “I did not meet real opposition to this position,” he says of his meeting with Macron.

“Previous presidents of France recognized the danger, but they didn’t act on it with the same courage and boldness as Macron does, and that is very important,” Netanyahu says.

Israel and France agreed to increase already strong security cooperation, he says.

— Raphael Ahren