Very strong tension between France and Israel! Israeli police raided a French estate in Jerusalem, arresting two gendarmes before releasing them. Paris denounces an unacceptable situation and summons the Israeli ambassador. Israel’s explanations deemed false. A major diplomatic crisis which will not go unanswered according to French sources…
It was a diplomatic incident of rare seriousness which occurred in Jerusalem, causing great tension between France and Israel. According to sources close to the matter, Israeli police officers unexpectedly and violently burst into an area belonging to France, despite repeated warnings from French authorities. They then arrested two French gendarmes present on site before finally releasing them. An act deemed totally unacceptable by Paris.
The integrity of French domains in Jerusalem flouted
The incident took place during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to the site of Eleona, a pilgrimage area that is part of French properties in the Holy Land. Faced with the armed intrusion of Israeli security forces, the minister denounced an “unacceptable situation” and refused to enter the site.
“I am not going to enter today, because the Israeli security forces entered there in an armed manner, without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave”
declared Jean-Noël Barrot to the press.
The Eleona, built on the cave where Christ is said to have taught the “Our Father”, is one of four French national estates in and near Jerusalem, witnesses to the historic presence of France in the holy city. The French minister insisted that “the integrity of these areas for which France is responsible must absolutely be respected”.
Gendarmes arrested knowingly
But the most shocking remains the arrest of two French gendarmes on duty at this diplomatic site. According to sources consulted by Le Figaro, the Israeli forces knew perfectly well that they were arresting representatives of the French security forces, who benefit from a special status.
Indeed, after the irruption of the Israeli police on the Eleona estate, the gendarmes present spoke for nearly 30 minutes with the security forces, making any misunderstanding about their identity and status impossible. “It was after the departure of the French delegation that the Israeli forces decided to arrest the gendarmes, with full knowledge of their status,” said a French diplomatic source.
Israel had been warned that no Israeli security forces would be tolerated
Another damning element for Israel in this affair: the French authorities claim to have warned on multiple occasions that the presence of Israeli security forces would not be authorized during the ministerial visit. A firm position justified by the special status of the French domains in Jerusalem.
“It had been mentioned numerous times before the visit that no Israeli security would be allowed on the site. The four national domains of France in Jerusalem are properties of the French government, which is responsible for ensuring their integrity and responsibility.
insist these same diplomatic sources.
“False” Israeli explanations according to France
Israel tried to provide explanations, but these were dismissed out of hand on the French side. According to a press release from the Israeli police, “two initially unidentified individuals” allegedly “refused entry to the site to Israeli agents responsible for the minister’s security”. A version totally denied by Paris.
“The Israeli allegations are false. This incident will not stop there, especially since it is aggravated by these fallacious statements disseminated by the Israeli authorities”
threaten French diplomatic sources.
Israeli ambassador summoned: towards a major diplomatic crisis?
Faced with what it considers to be a clear violation of its sovereignty, France immediately reacted by summoning the Israeli ambassador to Paris. The crisis is therefore taking a major diplomatic turn between the two countries.
For informed observers, the Eleona incident is only a symptom of an increasingly tense relationship in recent months between France and Israel, despite historically strong ties between the two countries. Israel’s security management of the holy sites of Jerusalem, particularly during religious festivals, has sparked strong criticism from Western countries, including France.
More broadly, Israeli settlement policy in the occupied territories and the blocking of the peace process with the Palestinians are persistent areas of friction. If relations between Paris and Tel Aviv are not in good shape, they nevertheless seemed to be under control recently. Until this episode which certainly marks a turning point.
How far will France go to show its discontent and obtain an apology from Israel? Should we expect retaliatory measures from Paris? Will the Jerusalem incident reshuffle the diplomatic cards in the Middle East? Many questions remain unanswered after this extraordinary episode which will be a landmark in France-Israel relations. One thing is certain, Paris does not intend to stop there.
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