Israel arrests then releases two French gendarmes

During a visit by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to a foreign country, an incident occurred. Fortunately, the two gendarmes involved were under diplomatic protection. What could be the impacts of this incident?

A diplomatic incident disrupts Franco-Israeli relations

A singular event damaged relations between France and Israel on November 7, 2024. Two French gendarmes with diplomatic protection were briefly arrested by Israeli security forces. This took place in the French national domain of Eléona, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

A particular context

This incident took place during the visit of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot. According to a diplomatic source, the entry of Israeli security forces into the site before the minister's visit had been prohibited. Ignoring this request, they still entered the enclosure, pushing Jean-Noël Barrot to refuse to enter.

“I am not going to enter the Eléona area today because the Israeli security forces entered it in an armed manner without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave”declared the French minister in front of journalists.

The consequences of the incident

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that a quarrel had broken out between Israeli security forces and the two French gendarmes. The latter were released as soon as they identified themselves. “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 »estimated Jean-Noël Barrot.

Israeli diplomacy affirmed that each visit by a foreign official was accompanied by Israeli security personnel and that this point had been “clarified in advance with the French Embassy in Israel”. A French diplomatic source said Israeli authorities were broadcasting “false accusations” and that the incident was not yet closed. The Israeli ambassador in Paris will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the coming days, the Quai d'Orsay said in a statement.