Israel's Netanyahu visits France's Macron to talk Iran deal

Israel's Netanyahu visits France's Macron to talk Iran deal

PARIS (AP) — Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting France's President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday as part of his European tour, aiming to rally support from allies against Iran.

Netanyahu will hold talks with Macron in Paris following his visit to Berlin, focusing on the international nuclear deal with Iran as well as how to push Iranian forces out of Syria.

Netanyahu was a staunch opponent of the deal, and welcomed the Trump administration's decision last month to withdraw from it. Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China, which also signed the agreement, have said they want to preserve it.

Macron insists on maintaining a dialogue with Iran. He said France will continue to work with the existing deal which it considers the best way to control the country's nuclear activity.

Iran informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Tuesday that it will increase its nuclear enrichment capacity within the limits set by the 2015 agreement.

French officials have said that Macron will also raise the issue of the Palestinian territories. European countries have voiced concerns over Israel's use of live fire during recent Palestinian protests along the Gaza border with Israel, including Macron who condemned Israel's "heinous acts."

Netanyahu and Macron will cap the day with a visit to an exhibit on Israeli innovations as part of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of Israel's founding.

This visit will inaugurate the French part of the joint "France-Israel Season," a series of cultural events that lasts 6 months. The initiative was planned in 2013 under Macron's predecessor.

A group of pro-Palestinians associations have demanded the cancellation of the events. They have called for a street protest Tuesday in front of the exhibition site to denounce Israel's "war crimes."