The visit to Jerusalem by French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot turned into a diplomatic incident this Thursday, November 7. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, the Israeli police entered “army” et “without authorization” on a site managed by France.
Speaking to RFI, the tenant of the Quai d’Orsay explained: “I am not going to enter the Eleona grounds today because the Israeli security forces entered it in an armed manner (sic), without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave. I want to say it very firmly and very seriously: this situation is unacceptable.”
“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 of peace”underlined the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Two French gendarmes arrested
During virulent exchanges, Israeli police surrounded two French gendarmes, grabbing one of them by force and putting him on the ground before loading him into a police car.
The official, who had identified himself, yelled several times “Don’t touch me!”according to the AFP journalist. The two gendarmes were later released and it was not specified why the Israeli police entered the site.
What is Eléona?
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 which France ensures the security and maintenance of 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.
An interview with Israel Katz
A little earlier in the day, the head of the Quai d’Orsay met Israel Katz, outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose country has been at war for more than a year on several fronts.
He had already visited Israel less than a month ago, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the bloody Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. He met earlier in Tel- Aviv from relatives of two Franco-Israeli hostages, Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Kalderon. IThey are among the 97 Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip, 34 of whom are considered dead by the Israeli armye.
According to his services, Mr. Barrot should also meet with Ron Dermer, a member of the government and close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The head of French diplomacy said on Tuesday November 5 on France 2 that he would make this trip to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip et “respect for international humanitarian law” in the Palestinian territory besieged and ravaged by more than a year of war.
This visit comes as relations between Israel and Paris have become significantly strained in recent weeks.s, after statements by President Emmanuel Macron calling for an end to sales of weapons used in Gaza or accusing Israel of “to sow barbarity”.
“The dialogue has never been broken”insisted Mr. Barrot during the television interview.
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