France and Israel found themselves in a diplomatic row on Thursday after a security incident at a French-administered site in Jerusalem.
Israeli security forces entered the compound and briefly detained two French officials with diplomatic status.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot also cancelled his visit to the Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives after the incident. The site, which is one of four under French administration in Jerusalem, is considered French territory.
As per the news agency Reuters, French diplomatic sources claimed that Israeli security forces were instructed to avoid entering the site ahead of Barrot’s visit. Despite these instructions, Israeli forces entered the compound, leading Barrot to refuse to proceed with his visit while they were present.
Two French consulate employees were detained but released after identifying themselves as diplomats. Barrot expressed his frustration, stating that this violation of a French-administered site could harm bilateral ties, especially at a time when efforts are needed to foster peace in the region.
The French government swiftly reacted, announcing plans to summon the Israeli ambassador to Paris to address the incident. France accused Israeli authorities of undermining diplomatic norms and disseminating false allegations.
Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign ministry described the event as a misunderstanding, explaining that Israeli security had been deployed as part of standard procedures for visiting foreign ministers. They claimed that the issue arose due to a lack of identification by the French officials, who were briefly held before being released.
This incident adds to existing tensions between France and Israel, which have been strained due to disagreements over military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently called for an arms embargo on Israel, a move that faced backlash from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. France’s attempts to limit Israeli weapons firms at a Paris trade fair further deepened the rift.
Despite reaffirming its commitment to Israel’s security, France has criticised Israel for its handling of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, where civilian casualties have been mounting.
Barrot's visit aimed to promote dialogue and urge Israel to pursue diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts. However, the episode at the Church of the Pater Noster has overshadowed these efforts, reminiscent of past disputes between French and Israeli officials over Jerusalem's French-administered religious sites.
Notably, in 2020, President Macron clashed with Israeli security at the Church of St. Anne, and a similar altercation occurred in 1996 involving former French President Jacques Chirac.
Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital, a stance not widely recognised internationally, while Palestinians aspire to make East Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
Barrot later met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, where he continued his calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic engagement to resolve ongoing conflicts in the region.
Israeli security forces entered the compound and briefly detained two French officials with diplomatic status.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot also cancelled his visit to the Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives after the incident. The site, which is one of four under French administration in Jerusalem, is considered French territory.
As per the news agency Reuters, French diplomatic sources claimed that Israeli security forces were instructed to avoid entering the site ahead of Barrot’s visit. Despite these instructions, Israeli forces entered the compound, leading Barrot to refuse to proceed with his visit while they were present.
Live reaction by France's foreign minister, who looks very shaken: "I will not enter the Eleona domain today because Israeli security forces entered it armed without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave today."pic.twitter.com/OzvfwO0UWV
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) November 8, 2024
In normal…
Two French consulate employees were detained but released after identifying themselves as diplomats. Barrot expressed his frustration, stating that this violation of a French-administered site could harm bilateral ties, especially at a time when efforts are needed to foster peace in the region.
The French government swiftly reacted, announcing plans to summon the Israeli ambassador to Paris to address the incident. France accused Israeli authorities of undermining diplomatic norms and disseminating false allegations.
Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign ministry described the event as a misunderstanding, explaining that Israeli security had been deployed as part of standard procedures for visiting foreign ministers. They claimed that the issue arose due to a lack of identification by the French officials, who were briefly held before being released.
This incident adds to existing tensions between France and Israel, which have been strained due to disagreements over military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently called for an arms embargo on Israel, a move that faced backlash from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. France’s attempts to limit Israeli weapons firms at a Paris trade fair further deepened the rift.
Despite reaffirming its commitment to Israel’s security, France has criticised Israel for its handling of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, where civilian casualties have been mounting.
Barrot's visit aimed to promote dialogue and urge Israel to pursue diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts. However, the episode at the Church of the Pater Noster has overshadowed these efforts, reminiscent of past disputes between French and Israeli officials over Jerusalem's French-administered religious sites.
Notably, in 2020, President Macron clashed with Israeli security at the Church of St. Anne, and a similar altercation occurred in 1996 involving former French President Jacques Chirac.
Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital, a stance not widely recognised internationally, while Palestinians aspire to make East Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
Barrot later met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, where he continued his calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic engagement to resolve ongoing conflicts in the region.
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