A diplomatic incident between France and Israel marred the visit to Jerusalem of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday when Israeli police entered “armed” and “without authorization,” according to him, on a religious site belonging to the France.
According to an AFP journalist on site, Israeli police officers entered the grounds of the Eléona national domain, owned by France since the 19th century, located on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of the city. occupied and annexed by Israel since 1967.
“This attack on the integrity of an area placed under the responsibility of France is likely to weaken the links that I had come to cultivate with Israel, at a time when we all need to advance the region on the path to peace,” Mr. Barrot stressed to the press.
Denouncing an “unacceptable situation”, the minister finally decided not to enter this pilgrimage site. The Israeli authorities “must present explanations, but it is not clear what they are, and an apology, to begin with,” commented a source with knowledge of the incident.
Gendarmes taken to task
Just after the minister's departure, a new incident involved Israeli police officers in uniform and two French gendarmes in civilian clothes, noted the AFP journalist.
During a very tense exchange, Israeli police officers grabbed one of the gendarmes, throwing him to the ground before taking him into a police car. The gendarme, who had identified himself, shouted several times, “Don’t touch me!” », According to this journalist.
The two gendarmes were then released, a police official explaining that they were not in uniform and had not shown their diplomatic card.
“They know that we work at the French consulate general,” replied one of the two consulate agents, pointing to the police officers who had arrested him.
The Israeli police said in a statement that “two initially unidentified individuals” had “refused entry to the site to Israeli agents responsible for the minister’s security.”
Domain belonging to France
The Eleona, within which there is a Benedictine monastery, is located on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of the city occupied and annexed by Israel since 1967.
Built on the so-called Pater cave, where Christ is said to have taught the Pater to his disciples, it is one of the four French national domains in and near Jerusalem, with the Tomb of the Kings, the Basilica of Saint Anne and the old crusader commandery. of Abu Gosh with their Romanesque churches.
“The Eléona estate (…) is an estate which has not only belonged to France for more than 150 years, but whose security and maintenance France ensures with enormous care,” said the minister. “The integrity of the four areas for which France is responsible here in Jerusalem must be respected,” he insisted.
On January 22, 2020, the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron was also marked by a stampede in front of the Sainte-Anne basilica. The president said in English to an Israeli police officer, “I don't like what you did in front of me.”
The most famous incident remains that of 1996, when President Jacques Chirac also lost his temper against Israeli soldiers who were surrounding him too closely, saying “Do you want me to go back to my plane? » (Do you want me to get back on board my plane?), before demanding that the soldiers leave the Sainte-Anne area.
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