Israeli politician threatens Macron with a "stronger slap" over support for the two-state solution.

In an unprecedented escalation, a prominent Israeli politician attacked French President Emmanuel Macron after France declared its commitment to the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, warning that "the next slap will be more severe." Israeli Knesset member Almog Cohen wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) in English, saying: "Dear President Macron, I heard that you are eager to establish a Palestinian state, considering the chaos last night in Paris, you are making great progress, only in France." Cohen added in a veiled threat, referring to the famous slap incident Macron faced in Vietnam: "There is something that tells me that the next slap the French people will receive will be more severe." These statements come after Israel accused the French president of waging a "war against it" following his call for the international community to take a firmer stance towards Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve. On the other hand, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Hacabee, considered Macron's statements inappropriate in light of the current war Israel is engaged in, emphasizing that October 7 was a turning point in the conflict. He sarcastically suggested that France should establish a Palestinian state on part of the French Riviera instead of pressuring a sovereign state. During a press conference in Singapore on Friday, Macron reiterated that Europeans should strengthen their collective stance towards Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve in the coming days, reaffirming his support for the two-state solution as a way to end the conflict, and stressing that recognizing the Palestinian state is "a moral duty and a political demand." It is worth mentioning that Israel partially lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza, allowing limited aid to enter amid increasing international criticism. Diplomatic reports indicate that France is considering recognizing a Palestinian state as part of preparations for a joint UN conference with Saudi Arabia in June, aimed at outlining a roadmap for achieving peace while ensuring Israel's security.