‘Shame on them’ - After Macron calls for arms halt to Israel, Netanyahu blasts Western leaders pushing arms embargoes

On Saturday, French President Emanuel Macron said that arms sales to Israel should be stopped as part of efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. 

In an interview with France Inter Radio, President Macron said, “I think the priority today is to get back to a political solution (and) that arms used to fight in Gaza are halted. France doesn't ship any.” 

Macron also called for de-escalation in Lebanon, saying it “cannot become another Gaza.” 

“Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not in turn be sacrificed, Lebanon cannot become another Gaza,” he stated. 

While France is not a major arms supplier to Israel, the French president’s call for an arms embargo echoes similar calls by other leaders, including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

While Trudeau has verbally supported Israel’s right to defend itself, his government also suspended arms sales to Israel in March. 

After Iran’s missile attack on Israel last week, Trudeau again called for the international community to “do everything we can to avoid a wider war.” 

The British government also suspended some arms sales to Israel citing what it called “a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law” in Gaza. 

In a statement Saturday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision of Macron to call for an arms embargo, and other Western leaders who have made similar moves. The premier noted that Israel is facing an Iranian-supported proxy war from several fronts. 

“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel's side. Yet, President Macron and other western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them,” Netanyahu said. 

“Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, on the Houthis, on Hamas and on its other proxies?” Netanyahu asked. “Of course not.  This axis of terror stands together.” 

He blasted the decision of the Western leaders “who supposedly oppose this terror axis” and yet “call for arms embargo on Israel.” 

“What a disgrace!” the prime minister stated. 

Netanyahu said that Israel would win the war even without their support and also repeated his claim that Israel is fighting this war on behalf of Western civilization. 

"Israel will win with or without their support,” Netanyahu continued. “But their shame will continue long after the war is won. For in defending ourselves against this barbarism, Israel is defending civilization against those who seek to impose a dark age of fanaticism on all of us.” 

He ended his comments promising to fight “until the battle is won.” 

“Rest assured, Israel will fight until the battle is won - for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world.”