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A significant diplomatic rift has opened between Paris and Washington, with France summoning the US ambassador, Charles Kushner, over what it has labeled "unacceptable" allegations of failing to combat a rise in antisemitism. The move escalates a tense international dispute involving France, the United States, and Israel, centered on the war in Gaza and France's stated intention to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
The controversy was ignited by an open letter from Kushner, published in the Wall Street Journal, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron. Kushner, who is Jewish and the father of President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, claimed there has been an "explosion of hatred towards Jews in France" since the war in Gaza began.
In his letter, the ambassador asserted, "In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized." He urged Macron to temper his criticism of Israel and to "forge a serious plan" to address the issue.
The French foreign ministry issued a swift and firm rebuke, stating the allegations were "unacceptable" and announcing that Kushner would be summoned to appear on Monday. The ministry emphasized that under the 1961 Vienna Convention, ambassadors are prohibited from interfering in the internal affairs of their host country, a principle it accused Kushner of violating.
A Coordinated Diplomatic Front
Kushner's public intervention closely mirrors a letter sent to Macron by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days earlier. Netanyahu accused the French leader of directly contributing to antisemitism by championing the international recognition of a Palestinian state. In his letter, Netanyahu charged that Macron's stance "pours fuel on this antisemitic fire" and "rewards Hamas terror."
The Elysée Palace forcefully rejected Netanyahu's claims as "abject" and "erroneous," insisting that France "protects and will always protect its Jewish citizens."
This diplomatic clash unfolds as France prepares to formally recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, a move that has angered both Israel and its staunchest ally, the United States. French officials have framed the decision as a necessary step to revive the two-state solution amid the devastating conflict.
The Broader Context: War and Famine
The diplomatic tensions are set against the grim backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza. The conflict was initiated by Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages.
Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. According to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll has surpassed 60,000.
Adding to the devastation, a famine was officially confirmed in Gaza City last week by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed body. The report concluded that over half a million people are facing "catastrophic" conditions of starvation and destitution. The IPC has stated this is a "man-made disaster" that is entirely preventable. Israel has rejected the report's findings, calling them an "outright lie."
President Macron has been a vocal critic of the war's toll on civilians and has previously highlighted France's commitment to combating antisemitism by increasing security for synagogues and other Jewish centers.
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