Netanyahu speaks to Macron less than 24 hours after France's call for arms embargo on Israel
File photo of French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (right).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (Oct 6) evening and told him that placing an arms embargo on Tel Aviv would only serve Iran and its proxies.
The phone call came less than 24 hours after Macron called for a halt in delivery of arms to Israel for use in Gaza, which provoked a sharp response from the Israeli PM who termed it a 'shame'.
"Just as Iran supports all parts of the Iranian terror axis, so are Israel's friends expected to support it, and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil," Netanyahu told Macron, a statement from his office read.
The Israeli PM justified his military's action in Lebanon stating that Hezbollah's elimination was essential for better regional stability and allowIsraelis in the north to return to their homes.
Earlier this week, Hezbollah's backer, Iran, launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles on major Israeli cities, prompting the entire 10 million population of the country to seek refuge in bomb shelters.
Consequently, on the eve of the October 7 attacks, Israel pounded southern Beirut with heavy airstrikes with a retaliatory action against Iran anticipated by many. Tehran even announced cancellation of all flights till Monday (Oct 7) morning, citing "operational limitations".
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Watch |Francophone Nations Call for 'Immediate' Ceasefire in Lebanon
Paris will not back off
Meanwhile, Macron's office said the president acknowledgedtheir differences in opinion but indicated that the French leader will not back off hisopposition to arms sales to Jerusalem.
"On the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist offensive against Israel, he expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people," the French presidency said.
"Like everyone, Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism. Attacks against Israel and its citizens must cease, whether they are carried out by Iran or its proxies in the region.”
Macron added that “the time for a ceasefire had now come".
“The arms deliveries, the prolongation of the war in Gaza and its extension to Lebanon cannot produce the security expected by the Israelis and by everyone in the region,” he added.
What did Netanyahu say earlier?
In avideo statement on Saturday, Netanyahu had attacked Macron and called him out for not supporting Israel.
"As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilised countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side," Netanyahu said. "Yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them."
Netanyahu sought to highlight the hypocrisy in the calls for a pause on arms shipments to Israel, asking whether Iran had restricted weapons to its allies.
(With inputs from agencies)