Published on: 07/11/2024 – 6:10 p.m.Amended: 07/11/2024 – 18:13

1 minute

“I will not enter Eleona’s estate today, because Israeli security forces entered with weapons, without prior French authorization, without agreeing to leave today,” Barrot said on the spot, qualifying the impasse of “unacceptable”.

“This violation of the integrity of an area entrusted to France is likely to weaken the ties that I came here to cultivate with Israel, at a time when we must all help the region move forward on the path to peace,” he added. he added.

The Foreign Ministry in Paris later said that Israel’s ambassador would be summoned following the incident.

The sanctuary of Eleona is in a complex in Jerusalem owned by France and, along with three other sites in Israel, constitutes the French national domain in the Holy Land.

These sites have been at the center of diplomatic incidents in the past.

The national domain was assigned to France before the creation of Israel and is administered as private property by the French consulate in Jerusalem.

The AFP journalist saw Israeli police officers surround the two French gendarmes before pushing one of them to the ground.

The gendarme identified himself and shouted several times, “Don’t touch me,” according to the journalist.

The two gendarmes were then taken into police cars. They were later released.

It is unclear why Israeli police entered the site.

“The Eleona estate (…) has not only belonged to France for more than 150 years, but France also ensures its security and maintains it,” declared Mr. Barrot.

“The integrity of the four areas for which France is responsible here in Jerusalem must be respected,” he added.

© 2024 AFP