Emmanuel Macron Archives - CrossFireArarbia

Macron Says No to Gaza Expulsions

CrossFireArabia
February 12, 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “respect” for Palestinians, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s reported plans for the mass deportation of Gazans.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Macron said: “You cannot say to 2 million people, ‘okay, now guess what? You will move’,” emphasizing that this is not a matter of “real estate” but a “political operation.”

Macron also said any “efficient” response to rebuilding Gaza “doesn’t mean automatically that you should lack respect to people or countries,” highlighting the wishes of Palestinians to remain in their homelands and the unwillingness of both Jordan and Egypt to accept large numbers of Gazan refugees according to Anadolu.

France has voiced support for “Israel’s right to defend itself” following Oct. 7, 2023, while Macron criticize Israeli operations and policies on multiple occasions.

“I always reiterated my disagreement with (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Macron said. “I don’t believe, once again, that such a massive operation targeting sometimes civilian people is the right answer.”

France suspended arms exports to the Israel Defense Forces in October 2024, calling on other nations to follow suit.

On Feb. 4, Trump announced at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US intended to seize Gaza and relocate its Palestinian population to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan.

Trump’s plan has faced widespread rejection from Palestinians, Arabs, and the international community while receiving significant political support within Israel across various factions.

The Israeli attacks have killed over 48,200 Palestinians and devastated Gaza since the war on the enclave began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Opinion

Trashing….

CrossFireArabia
November 30, 2024

CEOSSFIREARABIA – At first France said it would adhere to the decision of the International Criminal Court and arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he landed in Paris because he is wanted as a war criminal.

This angered Netanyahu. In a private telephone call with President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders had a terse conversation on the international legality of the ICC decision. Netanyahu questioned its validity in the strongest manner.

While this was going on, France was interested in reaching a ceasefire deal on Lebanon and Hezbollah. Israel started another battle on its northern borders come mid-September and was busily attacking south Lebanon up to Beirut’s south district, seen as a Hezbollah stronghold.

The French government soon started its diplomacy and started to push for a ceasefire. Thus the context became that if France waived the Netanyahu arrest and that of his ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, should they travel to France, a deal can be reached on Lebanon.

And thus a 60-day ceasefire was finally reached; this was a ceasefire that could be extended.

Meanwhile France needed to provide its pretext for “arresting/not arresting Netanyahu” if he landed in France. Excuses had to be made: Israel wasn’t privy to ICC decisions because it was not a signatory to the world body as well it was felt that that Netanyahu couldn’t be arrested because he was a sitting prime minister.

This meant that the whole issue was becoming very confusing. But the ICC decision was binding on all 124 of its members in the world that includes France which is bound to follow the decisions of the international court with no excuses!

This political diplomacy maybe water on a duck’s back because Netanyahu is still promising that he will go after Hezbollah soon ant that means an Israeli war on Lebanon is likely to start again in the near future.

But is this likely as well, since the north of Israel is clearly devastated and neither the Israelis nor their army would prefer to see war re-starts again. For the time being however, its touch and go.

News

Netanyahu Angry With Macron Over Arrest Warrants

CrossFireArabia
November 26, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron over the phone, requesting that the Paris government not enforce the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to a report by RMC radio, Macron and Netanyahu discussed the ICC’s arrest warrant in a phone call held last week.

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly expressed his anger and asked France not to enforce the court’s decision.

While Macron has not made an official statement on the matter, information obtained by RMC from various sources suggests that Macron told Netanyahu during the conversation that France would uphold international law and noted that judges could grant immunity to heads of state.

On Nov. 21, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, in remarks made today during a session in parliament, said that France would fulfill its obligations under international law with regard to the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu according to Anadolu.

News

Macron: Netanyahu Must Not Forget Israel Was Created by UN Decision

CrossFireArabia
October 16, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu “must not forget that his country was created by a decision of the UN,” amid increased tensions between the two after suggesting that stopping weapon exports to Israel was the only way to stop its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

His UN remarks are trending on the social media with images of both Macron and the angry Netanyahu.

“Mr Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a decision of the UN,” Macron told the weekly French cabinet meeting, referring to the resolution adopted in November 1947 by the United Nations General Assembly on the plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state according to an AFP report.

Images of Macron shows he is visibly upset with Netanyahu, stating there should be an arms embargo on Israel to stop the war on Gaza and that Israeli ground troops must not be sent into Lebanon.

Also, Macron is displeased with the Israeli fire on the 10,000 UNIFIL troops stationed in Lebanon, 700 of which are from France.

News

France, Italy, and Spain Condemn Israeli Attacks on UN Peacekeepers

CrossFireArabia
October 12, 2024

France, Italy, and Spain have strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, labeling them “unjustifiable” and in violation of international law. This follows two consecutive explosions near the Lebanese-Palestinian border, which injured several members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The attacks have sparked concern over the increasing risks to UN personnel as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate.

In a joint statement, the three European nations expressed outrage, demanding an immediate halt to the violence. “These attacks constitute a serious violation of Israel’s obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law,” the statement read. The nations also called for increased protection for peacekeepers and urged both sides to de-escalate the situation according to the Quds News Network.

France, which contributes around 700 troops to UNIFIL, has been particularly vocal in its criticism. French President Emmanuel Macron summoned Israel’s envoy and demanded an explanation, emphasizing that the targeting of UN peacekeepers is “absolutely unacceptable.” Macron further proposed halting arms exports to Israel as a means to curb the violence, suggesting that stopping the flow of weapons could help prevent further escalation.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed Macron’s call, urging the international community to cease selling arms to Israel. Following a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sanchez stated, “It is urgent that we stop contributing to the violence by supplying weapons to Israel.” Sanchez has been one of the most outspoken European leaders against Israel’s recent military offensives, which he described as an “invasion” of Lebanon.

Both Macron and Sanchez’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended Israel’s military actions as necessary for self-defense. As the conflict intensifies, international leaders are increasingly pressing for diplomatic solutions to prevent further casualties.