Netanyahu to Macron: ‘Paris is the Capital of France, Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel’

“Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years. It’s been the capital of the Jewish state for 70 years,” Netanyahu told French President Macron.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris on Sunday, engaging in a discussion that focused on President Donald Trump’s historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Macron expressed “disapproval” of Trump’s decision, calling it “dangerous for peace.”

“It doesn’t seem to serve, in the short term, the cause of Israel’s security and the Israelis themselves,” Macron said.

Netanyahu lauded the ties and collaboration between Israel and France on many issues, including the quest for peace, security and prosperity in the region.

“Does this mean that Emmanuel Macron and I agree on everything? Not yet, we’re working on it. It’s a question of time,” Netanyahu stated.

“Paris is the capital of France. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It’s been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years. It’s been the capital of the Jewish state for 70 years,” Netanyahu declared, saying that Israel respects France’s history and its choices, “and we know that as friends, you respect ours.”

Netanyahu added that a recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “is also essential for peace.”

“I think what peace requires is to be built on the foundation of truth, on the facts of the past and on the present. This is the only way that you can build pluralistic and successful future,” the Israeli premier stated.

To that end, Netanyahu criticized “an effort, continually in UN forums, UNESCO and elsewhere to deny the millennial connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem. It’s absurd.”

Netanyahu noted that one can read about the Jews’ bond to Jerusalem “in a very fine book, it’s called the Bible. You can read it after the Bible. You can hear it in the history of Jewish communities throughout our diaspora, ‘Next year in Jerusalem, next year in Jerusalem.’”

Acknowledging the Obvious

“Where else is the capital of Israel but in Jerusalem? Where is our Knesset, our parliament? Where is our supreme court, the seat of our government, the Prime Minister’s Office, the President’s office? It’s not in Beer Sheva, it’s not in Ashdod. These are wonderful cities, but it’s in Jerusalem. It’s always been our capital,” he declared.

“Jerusalem’s never been the capital of any other people. I think the sooner the Palestinians come to grips with this reality, the sooner we’ll move towards peace,” he concluded.

Netanyahu was essentially echoing Trump’s words in historic announcement last week.

“Today, Jerusalem is the seat of the modern Israeli government. It is the home of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, as well as the Israeli Supreme Court. It is the location of the official residences of the Prime Minister and the President. It is the headquarters of many government ministries,” Trump stated.

“Jerusalem is the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times,” Trump said. “Today Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government.”

“Today, we finally acknowledged the obvious, that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more than a recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do,” he stated.

By: United with Israel Staff