Israel has declared French President Emmanuel Macron persona non grata, banning his entry into the country as long as he continues with his plan to officially recognize the State of Palestine unilaterally.
The decision was communicated by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during a phone call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, in which he stated that Israel seeks to maintain good relations with Paris but will not accept diplomatic visits while France promotes an initiative considered dangerous to Israel’s national security interests.
The announcement comes after Macron confirmed that he would push for the recognition of Palestine at this month’s United Nations General Assembly, a gesture that has drawn strong criticism in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as rewarding terrorism and warned that such a stance could pave the way for another “Iranian proxy” in the region, similar to what has happened in Gaza.
According to diplomatic sources, Macron had requested to make a visit to Israel before his speech at the UN, but Netanyahu rejected the proposal, conditioning it on France abandoning the recognition initiative, something the French president flatly refused. Israel’s decision to block Macron marks an unprecedented point of tension in bilateral relations, traditionally close in cultural and economic terms but now fractured on the political and diplomatic front.
The measure is also seen as a warning message to other European countries considering taking similar steps in recognizing the Palestinian state, at a time when the international community remains divided on how to move forward toward a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, from Paris, government spokespersons have reiterated that France’s position seeks to contribute to peace and that it will not yield to external pressure, stressing that the recognition of Palestine responds to a historic commitment to stability in the Middle East.
