WANA (Jul 29) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning to French President Emmanuel Macron following France’s announcement that it will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.

 

In a statement responding to Macron’s pledge, Netanyahu claimed that such a move could result in France being added to what he described as Iran’s “proxy list” — a remark that triggered widespread ridicule among international commentators and social media users.

 

“Recognizing a Palestinian state poses the risk of creating yet another Iranian proxy, as happened in Gaza,” Netanyahu warned. “Such an entity would become a launching pad for the destruction of Israel, not a platform for peaceful coexistence.”

Macron had earlier declared on Thursday (July 24) that France intends to officially recognize Palestine in September, positioning Paris — in his words — as “the most influential European country advancing this initiative.”

 

Netanyahu’s reaction quickly became the subject of satire and criticism across social media platforms. Many users sarcastically suggested that Netanyahu might soon threaten to attack Paris, mocking the idea that France — a major European power and long-standing Israeli ally — could be treated as an adversary over its diplomatic stance.

 

Some users described Netanyahu’s statement as “outrageously arrogant,” especially given that Macron is widely regarded as one of Israel’s closest partners in Europe. Activists also warned that other European nations could face similar hostility if they do not push back against what they called Israel’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric.

Some of the users’ comments. Social media/ WANA News Agency