Hollande (R) and Netanyahu
Photo: GPO
'Netanyahu turned Toulouse memorial into election rally'
French President Hollande tells Paris magazine Israeli PM tried to gain political capital at ceremony honoring terror victims; adds: 'He's obsessed with Iran'
French President Francois Hollande leveled criticism at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday, saying that he tried to use the memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the Toulouse terror attack to gain political capital.
Hollande was quoted by leading French magazine Le Canard Enchainé as expressing regret that Netanyahu "turned the Toulouse memorial into an election rally."
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According to the report, Hollande said that "We assumed Netanyahu was here to campaign… His visit had two parts, the memorial and then the speech. He was careful with what he said because I was there, but turning the ceremony into an election rally was a bad idea."
Holland was further quoted as saying that Netanyahu "is obsessed with Iran" and that the subject came up during their meeting.
The French president was speaking to reporters en route to an official visit in Beirut.
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