Israeli police briefly arrest two French gendarmes, Jean-Noël Barrot denounces an “unacceptable situation”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the summons of the Israeli ambassador to France “in the coming days” after this incident which occurred on Thursday in Jerusalem.

A diplomatic incident between France and Israel during the visit to Jerusalem of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. The Israeli police entered “army” et “sans authorisation”Thursday November 7, in Eleona, a pilgrimage site managed by France, according to the head of diplomacy. Jean-Noël Barrot denounced a “unacceptable situation” and refused to enter this place, while the Israeli police arrested two French gendarmes, according to an AFP journalist present on site.

The Israeli police then made the French gendarmes get into a police vehicle, according to the Radio France journalist present on site. The two French soldiers were released shortly after.

“France condemns [ces actions] with all the more vigor as they intervene in a context where it is doing everything possible to work towards the de-escalation of violence in the region”, wrote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. He also announced that the Israeli ambassador to France would be summoned “in the coming days.”

Jean-Noël Barrot, who met on ThursdayOutgoing Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz is visiting Israel “to continue a demanding dialogue on Lebanon and Gaza.” He is also due to meet with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Mohamed Mustafa.