Diplomatic Incident: Israel Arrests and Releases Two French Gendarmes
During Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's visit to a foreign country, an incident occurred involving two gendarmes who were under diplomatic protection. What could be the implications of this incident?
Diplomatic Incident Strains Franco-Israeli Relations
On November 7, 2024, a significant event strained the ties between France and Israel. Two French gendarmes under diplomatic protection were briefly detained by Israeli security forces at France’s national Eléona domain on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
A Distinctive Context
The incident occurred during the visit of the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot. Diplomatic sources indicated that the entry of Israeli security forces into the site had been prohibited prior to the minister’s visit. Disregarding this, the forces entered the premises, prompting Jean-Noël Barrot to decline entry.
“I will not enter the Eléona domain today because the Israeli security forces have entered it armed without prior authorization from France and without agreeing to leave,” stated the French minister to reporters.
https://twitter.com/RFI/status/1854588692830003218
Consequences of the Incident
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported in a statement that a dispute erupted between the Israeli security forces and the two French gendarmes, who were released upon identification. “This violation of the integrity of a domain under France’s responsibility could weaken the ties I came to foster with Israel at a time when we all need to advance the region towards peace,” Jean-Noël Barrot assessed.
Israeli diplomacy stated that the presence of Israeli security personnel during foreign officials’ visits was clarified in advance with the French Embassy in Israel. A French diplomatic source accused Israeli authorities of spreading “false accusations” and indicated that the incident was not yet resolved. The Israeli ambassador to Paris will be summoned to the French Foreign Ministry in the coming days, announced the Quai d’Orsay.