The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, denounced on Thursday a serious diplomatic skirmish in Jerusalem, when a pilgrimage site under French responsibility was invaded by the Israeli police without authorization. This site, Eléona, located on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, is a national domain belonging to France for more than 150 years. Israeli police entered “in an armed manner, without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave”affirmed Jean-Noël Barrot, who qualified this
“unacceptable situation”.
The minister also clarified to the press that he refused to enter the Eléona grounds because of this intrusion, explaining that “this attack on the integrity of an area placed under the responsibility of France is likely to weaken ties” which he wanted to strengthen with Israel. This diplomatic visit, intended to promote a peace dialogue in the region, thus took a tense turn.
An arrest filmed
The intrusion by Israeli security forces led to the arrest of two French gendarmes, members of the Diplomatic Security Guard (GSD), who ensure the protection of French premises in Jerusalem. According to witnesses present, Israeli police surrounded the two French gendarmes, one of whom was forcibly overpowered and pinned to the ground, despite his identification. One of the gendarmes then repeated “Don’t touch me!” several times, as can be seen in a video from a journalist from RFI published on social networks. The two agents were taken to an Israeli police station and then released after checking the video surveillance images in their possession, specifies BFMTV.
Jean-Noël Barrot underlined the importance of these sites for France, recalling that “the Eléona estate (…) is an estate which has not only belonged to France for more than 150 years, but which France ensures the security and maintenance of with enormous care”. He also reaffirmed that
“the integrity of the four areas for which France is responsible here in Jerusalem must be respected”. These areas also include the Basilica of Saint Anne, the Tomb of the Kings and the ancient crusader commandery of Abu Gosh.
Following this incident, Paris indicated that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador to France to the Quai d'Orsay.
France
