French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Isaac Herzog and and Benjamin Netanyahu during solidarity visit.
By World Israel News Staff
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Israel Tuesday morning for a solidarity visit following similar trips by President Joe Biden and a number of European leaders.
Macron met with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, where the two discussed the October 7th attack, Israel’s response, and concerns that the war could expand to Israel’s northern border.
“We passed several messages, too, to other potential terrorist groups, targeting or wanting to join this operation, and clearly we warned Hezbollah,” Macron told Herzog. “We passed very clear messages.”
The French president said his country stands “shoulder to shoulder with you and your nation, and we will do whatever we can to restore peace, security, and stability for your country and the whole region.”
Macron placed the release of Israeli captives in Gaza as the top priority, while adding that Israel is “not left alone” in its war on Hamas.
“The first objective we should have today is the release of all hostages without any distinction, because this is an awful crime to play with the lives of children, adults, all people, civilians and soldiers.”
“But I want you to be sure that you are not left alone in this war against terrorism, because I speak here on behalf of a country which experienced these terrorist attacks, unhappily, and you were there at that time. And I think it is our duty to fight against these terrorist groups.”
Later, President Macron met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the two leaders held a joint press conference.
“On October 7, Hamas waged war on Israel,” said Netanyahu.
“It was the worst terrorist attack the world has known since 9/11, but for Israel, proportionately, it was like twenty 9/11s. It was the worst act of antisemitic violence since the Holocaust.”
“Hamas butchered, Hamas beheaded Hamas burned babies alive. Hamas raped, Hamas kidnapped – hostages, over 200 – babies, children, elderly, Holocaust survivors. We are in a war between barbarism and civilization.”
“Today the international community is uniting in support of Israel.”
Macron called France is united with Israel in the war against terrorism, calling an existential war “for all of us.”
“This fight against terrorism is obviously a matter of existence for Israel. But it’s a matter of existence for all of us.”