Israel / Palestinian Territories - Q&A from the press briefing (14 November 2023)

Q: Le Figaro mentioned a letter, let me quote from their article: “Several French ambassadors in the Middle East and certain countries in the Maghreb – about a dozen, according to our information – collectively drafted and signed a letter regretting Emmanuel Macron’s pro-Israel stance in the war between the Jewish State and Hamas.” Can you confirm the existence of this letter, and what is the response from the Quai d’Orsay?

A: The Quai d’Orsay does not comment on confidential diplomatic correspondence. Every international situation elicits numerous contributions from our diplomatic posts, whose daily job consists of contributing to diplomatic discussions.

Our elected politicians, the President, parliamentarians, the cabinet led by our Prime Minister, and within that cabinet, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, are responsible for determining France’s foreign policy.

Diplomacy is not a matter of individual opinions expressed in the press. Diplomats have a duty of confidentiality and a duty of loyalty, as do all civil servants.