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.

After Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday sent a letter accusing Emmanuel Macron of fuelling anti-Semitism in France by calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state, the French presidency snapped back with a statement calling the Israeli leader's claims "abject" and "erroneous".

After the Israeli prime minister condemned Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, claiming it 'encourages the Jew-hatred now stalking [France's] streets,' the Elysée Palace responded by insisting that it 'protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens.