French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has canceled a planned visit to a holy site in Jerusalem following a confrontation with Israeli police. The incident occurred at the Eleona sanctuary on the Mount of Olives, which is under French control, when armed Israeli officers entered the site and briefly arrested two French gendarmes.
France has responded by summoning the Israeli ambassador to address the incident, marking the latest in a series of diplomatic disputes surrounding the French national domain in the Holy Land. The domain, which includes the Eleona sanctuary and three other sites, was designated to France before the establishment of Israel in 1948 and is managed as private property by the French consulate in Jerusalem.
An AFP journalist present at the scene reported that Israeli police entered the Eleona site and surrounded the two gendarmes, pushing one to the ground. The gendarme, who identified himself, repeatedly shouted "Don’t touch me" before both officers were taken away in police cars. They were later released, though the reason for their arrest remains unclear.
Following the incident, Minister Barrot expressed his disapproval, describing the actions of the Israeli police as “unacceptable.” He explained that he would not proceed with his visit to the Eleona site due to the unauthorized entry by Israeli security forces, calling it a violation of French-controlled territory. He emphasized the importance of respecting the integrity of the four French-administered sites in Jerusalem, stressing that France has maintained and ensured the security of these sites for over 150 years.
The Eleona sanctuary, which includes a Benedictine monastery, is located in occupied East Jerusalem and is historically significant for its association with the Pater cave, where Christ is said to have taught the Lord’s Prayer.
The dispute adds to a history of tensions between French officials and Israeli forces in Jerusalem. In January 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly rebuked an Israeli police officer at the Sainte-Anne basilica, and in 1996, President Jacques Chirac confronted Israeli soldiers for encroaching on his space at the same site.
Barrot’s comments highlight ongoing concerns over the preservation of French heritage sites in Jerusalem and the need for respect in diplomatic relations between France and Israel, especially in such a sensitive region.
No comments:
Post a Comment