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.

A row between Israel and France over Paris’ plan to recognise a Palestinian state next month escalated to crisis level on Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of fomenting “antisemitism”.

Emmanuel Macron has been pictured making a splash during his surfing holiday in the south of France. The images, which have been shared widely by the media in France, mark a stark departure from the sobriety of the French president’s usual crisp attire and serious demeanour.

This has become so widespread in the United States that we had to react,’ the French president says in his first public remarks about the case

The French president expressed concern at the 'extremely serious context, both for Ukraine and for the security of all Europe.' Like several of his European counterparts, he is set to join Zelensky at a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House.

France and other EU backers of Ukraine — the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ — have said they would play an active role in negotiations