Sa’ar speaks to French counterpart, says no Macron visit unless Paris drops Palestinian state recognition

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urges French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to withdraw France’s planned unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood this month, telling him that French President Emmanuel Macron will not be welcome to visit Israel so long as the move remains on the agenda, according to a statement from his office.

In a phone call, Sa’ar called on Barrot “to reconsider France’s initiative to recognize a ‘Palestinian state,’ stating that the French initiative undermines stability in the Middle East and harms Israel’s national and security interests,” the statement says.

“Israel seeks good relations with France, but France must respect Israel’s position when it comes to matters essential to its security and future,” Sa’ar further clarified during the conversation.

Sa’ar also said that any visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Israel “has no place” so long as France “persists in its initiative and in efforts that harm Israel’s interests.”

Last night, the Kan public broadcaster reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had conditioned a requested visit by Macron on scrapping the recognition initiative — a demand the French president reportedly rejected.

The two ministers also discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, the European snapback process against Iran, Lebanon, and the war in Ukraine, the statement adds.

There was no immediate French readout of the call.