ADDS REMARKS FROM FRENCH PRESIDENCY; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, DECK
By Ilayda Cakirtekin
ISTANBUL (AA) - French presidency denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation Tuesday of antisemitism against President Emmanuel Macron as "erroneous and abject," broadcaster BFM TV reported.
The presidency reassured that the accusation would "not go unanswered."
“The times call for seriousness and responsibility, not confusion and manipulations,” it said.
France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad also slammed Netanyahu on BFM TV.
"I’m telling you that this is a matter that should not be instrumentalized, on which we must be united, we must be extremely firm, and France has no lessons to learn in the fight against antisemitism," Haddad noted.
He noted that Macron and his government have always been "extremely committed against antisemitism."
It came after Netanyahu accused Macron, in a letter to the French head of state, of fueling antisemitism in France by calling for international recognition of Palestine
In the letter obtained by French media, Netanyahu also urges Macron to tackle antisemitism in France, setting a deadline of the Jewish New Year on Sept. 23.
Macron confirmed in July that France would recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.