During his third meeting since Emmanuel Macron’s election as president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to focus on the Iranian nuclear file, while setting aside issues Paris has condemned, such as the Palestinian file, settlement building and recent developments in Jerusalem and Gaza.
Present disagreements did not prevent Macron from taking part in an evening French-Israeli cultural event and hail ties with Israel.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had notably canceled last month a planned trip to Israel, citing a busy schedule.
French sources said however that the recent unrest in the Gaza Strip and the United States’ relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem sparked the cancellation. Israel has faced fierce international condemnation for its use of live ammunition against Gaza border Palestinian protesters demanding their right to return to their homeland.
Macron had also denounced the “violence by Israel’s armed forces”.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu was met with angry rallies opposing his visit to Paris.
In addition, three major press unions issued a joint statement condemning the deaths of over 100 Palestinians and the wounding of some 8,000 others by Israeli troops during the Gaza protests that had kicked off in March.
The statement also denounced the targeting of ambulances, women, children and journalists by Israeli sniper fire.
They also demanded the release of all detained journalists and putting an end to Israeli repression.
Netanyahu concludes his visit to France on Wednesday. He will then head to the UK as part of a European tour aimed at discouraging the three European signatories of the 2015 Iran deal from doing business with Tehran.
If Netanyahu's goal was to get Paris to change its stance on the nuclear pact and follow in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the deal last month, it clearly did not work.
During a joint press conference with the Israeli PM, Macron reiterated Paris' commitment to the agreement despite its “shortcomings.” He voiced a desire to complement it with an additional agreement that takes into account Tehran's ballistic missile program, its destabilizing regional policy and the future of its nuclear activities beyond 2025.
Well aware that his attempt to persuade Macron out of the agreement would not succeed, Netanyahu adopted a different “tactic.”
The Israeli PM said he did not ask for a French deal exit, because the arrangement will fail on its own due to “economic reasons,” citing an exodus of French and European companies from Iran.
French multinational automobiles manufacturer Groupe PSA was the latest firm to wind up operations in Iran after the return of US sanctions on the country.
Netanyahu has long been a severe critic of the Iran nuclear deal, saying it did little to quell Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and instead helped expand its clout in the region.
His tour on European countries was aimed at persuading leaders to pullout of the deal and accept an amended one that addresses Tehran’s hostile behavior.
He had met on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and is set to meet British PM Theresa May on Wednesday.
