“The time for a ceasefire has now come”: what to remember from the telephone conversation between Macron and Netanyahu

Macron et Netanyahu se sont entretenus “en toute franchise” lors d'un appel téléphonique. MAXPPP – CHRISTOPHE ENA/POOL

Selon un communiqué de l'Élysée, les deux dirigeants, qui se sont entretenus par téléphone ce dimanche 6 octobre, "assument leurs différences de vue".

Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed to Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday “France's unwavering commitment” to Israel's security, during a telephone conversation intended to dispel the unease between the two countries in the wake of the French president's statements calling for a halt to certain arms deliveries to Israel.

Emmanuel Macron, however, insisted on the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, the Elysée announced, while his Israeli interlocutor asked him for his "support" and "not restrictions", according to his office.

"On the eve of the first anniversary of Hamas' terrorist offensive against Israel" October 7, 2023, Emmanuel Macron“expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people”, the French presidency said. Emmanuel Macron also expressed “his conviction that the time for a ceasefire has now come”.

The two leaders discussed “the situation in the Middle East, in complete frankness and with respect for the friendship between France and Israel”, the Elysée said. They “assume their differences of view as well as their desire to be well understood by each other”, he added.

“The President of the Republic reiterated to the Israeli Prime Minister that France's commitment to Israel's security is unwavering and reminded him of the mobilization of French military resources to defend it during the attacks carried out by Iran in recent months”, the French presidency stressed.

“No restrictions”

The Israeli Prime Minister's office reported that Mr. Netanyahu had asked for “support” from the French President. “We expect Israel's friends to support it and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil”, he told Emmanuel Macron, presenting his country's offensive against Hezbollah as “an opportunity to change the reality in Lebanon for the benefit of stability, security and peace in the entire region”.

Emmanuel Macron had angered Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday by stating that the "priority" was now "a political solution" and "that we stop supplying weapons to fight in Gaza" while specifying that France was not supplying any itself.

"Shame" to leaders who call for arms embargoes on Israel, the Israeli prime minister had sharply responded.

During their telephone conversation, Emmanuel Macron declared that Israel “has the right to defend itself against terrorism”. “Attacks on Israel and its citizens must stop, whether they are carried out by Iran or its proxies in the region”, the French president said, according to the Elysée.

“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”, the presidency also insisted.

Israel is engaged on several fronts, at war against Hamas in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where it has been conducting ground operations since Monday. The Hebrew state is also threatening to retaliate against a massive missile attack by Iran that took place last Tuesday.