Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a sharply worded letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of “pouring fuel on the antisemitic fire” by pledging to recognise a Palestinian state next month. In the message, dated 17 August and seen by AFP, Netanyahu says antisemitic incidents in France have surged since Macron announced the forthcoming recognition and calls the policy “appeasement” that rewards Hamas and encourages hostility toward French Jews. Netanyahu urges Macron to take stronger action against antisemitism before the Jewish New Year on 23 September, writing that the French leader must “replace weakness with action.” The Israeli premier cites recent attacks on Jewish individuals and property in France to support his claim that the situation has deteriorated. Paris swiftly rejected the criticism. A French diplomatic spokesperson said the country “needs no lessons” on combating antisemitism and reaffirmed Macron’s plan to endorse Palestinian statehood during the United Nations General Assembly in September. The exchange underscores growing tension between the two allies as international momentum builds behind formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.