Israel Launches Diplomatic Attacks on Western Allies Over Palestine Recognition: Netanyahu Accuses France and Australia of Fueling Antisemitism

In a heightened international dispute, Israel has initiated a series of diplomatic assaults against several Western allies, who are poised to acknowledge a Palestinian state in the coming month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched two firm letters to the leaders of France and Australia, alleging their decision to recognize a Palestinian state fostered antisemitism. In both correspondence, Netanyahu cited recent instances of antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents, correlating them with the governments’ stances on the Gaza conflict and Palestinian statehood.

In his letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, obtained by CNN on Tuesday, Netanyahu stated, “Your call for a Palestinian state fan the flames of antisemitism.” He added, “This is not diplomacy; it is appeasement. It legitimizes Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s stance against peace talks, emboldens anti-Semites threatening French Jews, and encourages the rising anti-Semitic sentiment in your country.”

The harsh letter received a stern rebuke from the Elysee Palace, which stated it learned of the Israeli missive through media reports before receiving it through official channels. The Palace declared, “France will always protect its Jewish citizens. These times call for seriousness and responsibility, not manipulation.”

Tensions signify an expanding divide between Netanyahu and his Western allies, who have become increasingly critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently labeled Netanyahu as “losing focus,” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Jyllands-Posten newspaper that Netanyahu has become a problem himself.

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu also criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, branding him a “weak leader,” following his government’s revocation of the visa of a far-right lawmaker from Netanyahu’s coalition.

Australia and France are among the most recent Western nations to announce plans to recognize a State of Palestine. Canada and Portugal have also expressed similar intentions. By next month, they will join over 140 countries that already acknowledge Palestinian statehood.

The United Kingdom has conditionally stated it will acknowledge a Palestinian state if Israel does not comply with criteria, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

Netanyahu set a deadline for the leaders of Australia and France to address the “cancer” of anti-Semitism, urging them to act before the Jewish New Year on September 23. The date aligns with the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level debate, where the countries are expected to recognize a Palestinian state.

France maintains that the move aims to revive the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and bring peace to the region; however, Israel and the US have denounced the initiative, claiming it rewards Hamas terror and will hinder peace efforts.

Israel’s relations with Australia have deteriorated since Canberra announced its intention to recognize a Palestinian state, following its imposition of sanctions on Israeli far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir in June. The crisis escalated this week after Australian Home affairs Minister Tony Burke denied an entry visa to another far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar revoked the residence visas of Australian representatives in the Palestinian Authority and ordered Israel’s embassy in Canberra to scrutinize every official Australian request for a visa to Israel.

Netanyahu later lambasted Australian Prime Minister Albanese on social media, stating, “History will remember Albanese as a weak leader who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

Albanese, speaking to local media on Wednesday, said he did not take it personally. He added, “I treat leaders of other countries with respect, and I engage with them in a diplomatic manner.”

Burke refuted Netanyahu’s “weak” accusation, telling public broadcaster the ABC that “strength is not measured by how many people you can wound or how many children you can leave hungry.”