Macron just accused Israel of “barbarism” in response to Netanyahu’s oft-repeated claim that he was defending civilization: “I’m not sure you can defend civilization by sowing barbarism yourselves”. pic.twitter.com/P6Cmr2Z0Ln
See you tomorrow for his apologies to Netanyahu and a…
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) October 24, 2024
Oooosh.
Mic drop.
Emmanuel Macron has warned Benjamin Netanyahu that “civilisation is not best defended by sowing barbarism ourselves”, as a conference convened by the French president in Paris raised $200m (£154m) for Lebanon’s official military and $800m in humanitarian aid for the country.
Macron also vowed to help train 6,000 extra Lebanese official forces. He called for a ceasefire and an end to Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers, for which he said there was no justification.
So, is France at war with Israel now?
They’re not funding Hezbollah, but there is really no chance that the IDF is not going to end up in direct confrontation with the Lebanese military.
Cool?
The twin aims of the conference were to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Lebanon and to strengthen Lebanese state institutions including the official army. France has historical ties to Lebanon and has a large Lebanese diaspora population.
In his opening remarks, Macron also said it was a matter of bitter regret that Iran, backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, had “engaged Hezbollah against Israel, while Lebanon’s higher interest required that it stay away from the Gaza war”.
In words directed at the Israeli prime minister, with whom his relationship has deteriorated badly, he said: “We have been talking a lot in recent days about a war of civilisations or about civilisations that must be defended. I am not sure that we defend a civilisation by sowing barbarism ourselves.”
Netanyahu had said on Europe 1 radio on Wednesday: “It is a war of civilisations against barbarism; we are at the forefront of this war and France must support Israel.”
…
As the conference closed, the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told participants: “In total, we have jointly gathered $800m in humanitarian aid.” He said there was a further $200m for Lebanon’s official security forces, bringing the total to “almost a billion, even more than a billion … with the latest contributions”.
The total far outstrips both France’s target of €500m ($540m) and the $400m originally requested by the UN for Lebanon.
On some level, I’m sure Macron is concerned about the tens of millions of Moslems in his own country rioting over French support for Israel.
However, on another level, I’m sure that all French people are simply fed up with this sickening relationship with the Jews.
You love to see it.
More damage, more victims, more strikes will neither end terrorism nor ensure everyone’s safety.
A ceasefire is needed in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/CkVg6FG49l
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 24, 2024
Elvis Dunderhoff contributed to this article.