MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visits the Mount of Olives, which overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, November 7, 2024
DIPLOMACY – Towards a weakening of Franco-Israeli relations? The diplomatic incident which took place last Thursday in Jerusalem, in the presence of Jean-Noël Barrot, seems in any case to have caused a shock wave in the French political class, in the midst of the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Sunday November 9, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs reacted back in France, and mentioned a situation “scandalous”. “We are looking at all options and we will not stop there”he warned.
“I was in Jerusalem in a spirit of dialogue. This intrusion is unworthy of the relationship between France and Israel”said Jean-Noël Barrot, in an interview with Parisian. Last Thursday, Israeli police entered “ army ” et « without permission » on the site of L'Eléona, a place of pilgrimage located at the top of the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem is annexed by Israel, and which belongs to France. Visiting the site, the minister then explained to the press that he refused to enter the premises, as a sign of protest.
A few minutes later, Israeli officials arrested two French gendarmes within the Éléona. In the images filmed by the journalists, we can hear virulent exchanges and see the Israeli agents forcibly grabbing the French gendarmes, before taking them into their vehicle. “The treatment reserved for the gendarmes, in disregard of their diplomatic status, is truly scandalous,” Jean-Noël Barrot was indignant. He also says he is “personally intervened to put an end to this unacceptable situation”.
“We will not stop there”
Insisting on a good incident “too serious”the minister recalled having summoned the Israeli ambassador to Paris, “to remind him that such an incident must never happen again”. A few hours after the intrusion of the Israeli police into L'Éléona, the Quai d'Orsay had actually published a press release on this subject, insisting on actions “not acceptable” that France ” sentenced “.
During this interview given to ParisianJean-Noël Barrot also spoke at length about Donald Trump's victory in the American presidential election. According to him, this is the “result of decades of elite blindness to the upheaval of the world” et “their denial of the legitimate exasperation of the middle and working classes tired of feeling discredited”.
He did not fail to worry about Elon Musk's role in the Republican candidate's campaign: “let’s hope he doesn’t inflict on American democracy the treatment he gave Twitter”tackled the French minister.
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