France Accuses Israel of Harming Bilateral Ties After Incident at Holy Site

France has accused Israel of harming bilateral relations following an incident at a holy site in occupied East Jerusalem under French administration, Al Jazeera reports.

The incident occurred on Thursday when Israeli forces briefly detained two French gendarmes with diplomatic status, sparking outrage from Paris.

The incident took place during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to the compound of the Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives. This site, one of four administered by France in Jerusalem, is considered part of France.

According to French diplomatic sources, Israeli security had been informed not to enter the compound before Barrot’s arrival. However, Israeli forces entered, prompting the Foreign Minister to refuse to enter the compound.

Two French security officials were then briefly detained, despite identifying themselves as diplomats. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, claims that the security protocol for the visit had been “clarified” in advance, and the police assert that the French gendarmes had not identified themselves and had obstructed their work. The ministry insists that the two were released immediately upon identifying themselves.

The AFP news agency reports that Israeli police surrounded the two French gendarmes, who were not in uniform, before pushing one of them to the ground.

The dispute casts a shadow over already strained diplomatic relations between France and Israel, particularly in light of Israel’s recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

France has taken a hard line against Israel’s actions in the region, calling for an end to supplying Israel with offensive weapons used in Gaza and banning Israeli weapons firms from exhibiting at a trade fair in Paris.

In a statement, the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that Israel’s ambassador to France will be summoned in the coming days.

This is not the first time tensions have arisen surrounding France’s historical holdings in Jerusalem. In 2020, President Emmanuel Macron lost his temper at the Church of St Anne, another site under French administration, demanding Israeli security personnel leave the Jerusalem basilica.

Barrot’s trip aimed to press Israel to engage diplomatically to end the conflicts in the region, particularly now that the presidential election in the United States is over. However, the incident at the Church of the Pater Noster has further aggravated already tense relations between the two nations.