Israel rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) after he criticised Israeli actions in the West Bank in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
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he → rebuke → Assembly
In his last speech as President addressing the UN's signature annual diplomatic gathering, Mr. Macron deplored the humanitarian situation in Gaza — from which Hamas led the October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest ever against Israel — as well as actions by Israel in the West Bank.
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Hamas → address → Bank
Mr. Macron said that "Hamas has never struck in the West Bank”, a territory seized by Israel in 1967 that is home to the Palestinian Authority.
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that → say → Authority
"The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron's statement is staggering," said a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to deliver a defiant address to the world body on Thursday (September 24, 2026).
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who → say → Thursday
"Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day.
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terrorists → carry → Jews
They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria," it said, using the Biblical name for the West Bank.
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it → murder → Bank
Mr. Netanyahu's office pointed to the shooting death on Sunday (September 20, 2026) — on the eve of Judaism's holiest day of Yom Kippur — of an Israeli settler in the West Bank.
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office → point → Bank
Israel said that the victim, father of six, Netanel Shukrun, also had French citizenship.
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victim → say → citizenship
The Israeli military said it arrested the Palestinian gunman at a hospital and troops later raided his village.
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troops → say → village
A minister in Mr. Netanyahu's government called for his execution under a new law.
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minister → call → law
Extremist Israeli settlers frequently attack and steal from West Bank Palestinians.
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settlers → attack → Palestinians
The United Nations said there were about six settler-related violent incidents against Palestinians or their property daily through mid-2026 in the territory.
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Nations → say → territory
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, also denounced Mr. Macron's remarks.
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Huckabee → denounce → remarks
"Hard to imagine a more out of touch with reality speech than Mr. Macron at UN," Mr. Huckabee wrote on X on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
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Huckabee → imagine → Wednesday
"Hamas is an evil scourge, and they have killed innocent American citizens."
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they → kill → citizens
In his Tuesday (September 22, 2026) speech, Mr. Macron railed against the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged countries to recommit to international laws and the UN system.
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Macron → rail → laws
"What is our credibility worth if we remain inactive on Gaza?
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we → remain → Gaza
Some claim that peace has been achieved, but this has not opened up humanitarian deliveries.
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this → claim → deliveries
It is a spectacle that shames us all," Mr. Macron said.
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Macron → sham → us
"Look at what is happening in West Bank, where there are violations every day.
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what → look → Bank
Hamas has never struck in the West Bank.
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Hamas → strike → Bank
This every day makes it more impossible to achieve respect for the Palestinian people's legitimate right to exist."
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it → make → right
The Palestinian Authority, led by Hamas's rivals, have semi-autonomy in major urban areas of the West Bank, with Israel controlling most of the territory.
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Israel → lead → territory
Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, two years after Israel pulled out and dismantled settlements.
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Israel → take → settlements
Mr. Netanyahu has poor relations with Mr. Macron who led a push by Western nations at last year's UN General Assembly to recognise a Palestinian state.
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who → have → state
France recently joined Britain in imposing sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, again angering the Israeli government.
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France → join → government
The Aporia
