France, Aug. 20 -- France has defended its record on combating antisemitism after Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu accused Emmanuel Macron of emboldening hate attacks against Jews by pledging to recognise a Palestinian state.

France has hit back with unusual force after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of stoking antisemitism, as Paris prepares to recognise a Palestinian state next month.

The row- already simmering since Macron's announcement in July- burst into open confrontation on Tuesday when Netanyahu wrote to the French leader warning that antisemitism had "surged" in France since his decision.

He claimed that recognition of Palestinian statehood would "pour fuel on this antisemitic fire" and...