Macron renews France's support for Israel and speaks of his opposition to the continuation of the settlement policy

French President Emmanuel Macron - during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris - renewed France's full support and solidarity with Israel, but stressed the need to "avoid any action that would fuel the spiral of violence."

Macron welcomed the normalization of relations between Israel and several countries in the region, but said that "this dynamic will remain incomplete as long as it is not accompanied by the resumption of a political process towards a solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The French presidency said in a statement that Macron expressed - during his meeting with Netanyahu in Paris on Thursday evening - his strong opposition to the continuation of settlement activity, "which undermines the prospects for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the future."

Iran file

With regard to Iran's nuclear file, the two sides expressed their determination to "work together" in the face of Tehran's activities in the Middle East, and to confront its support for Russia in its attack on Ukraine.

Macron stressed the need to show the necessary firmness in the face of - what he described - as Iran's "reckless impulsiveness", which if it continues, will inevitably have consequences," and about the lack of "transparency in this country towards the International Atomic Energy Agency."

The Elysee added that Macron and Netanyahu "expressed their grave concern about Iran's destabilizing activities in the region."

Paris stressed that President Macron had reminded that Iranian support for Russia in Ukraine exposes Tehran to "increasing sanctions and isolation."

The meeting between Macron and Netanyahu comes a few days after the meeting between the directors of strategic affairs in the foreign ministries of the two countries on January 19, during which the Iranian file was discussed.

In addition to this diplomatic aspect, Netanyahu will meet with prominent businessmen in France in the financial field and hold a meeting with the leaders of the Jewish community, according to the Tel Aviv embassy in the French capital.