“This is an unacceptable act,” denounces Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairs

A French gendarme arrested by Israeli police officers. Unceremoniously pinned to the ground, he was then taken handcuffed to the police station. At the origin of this filmed scene, a disagreement between two French soldiers who came to secure the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, to Jerusalem, and the Israeli police officers. Problem: the events took place on a religious site belonging to the French Republic.

The gendarmes accuse Israeli agents of having entered this territory armed and without authorization. But for the police officers of the Hebrew State, the French prevented them from working. The two gendarmes were eventually arrested, before being quickly released.

But according to the minister, the mere presence of Israeli police inside the estate constitutes a diplomatic incident. “This is an unacceptable and, frankly, incomprehensible act”declared Jean-Noël Barrot to the press. The minister announced that he will summon the Israeli ambassador to Paris to provide further explanations on these facts.

Watch the full report in the video above.