Israel/Palestinian Territories – Visit by the Minister to the Eleona French-owned church compound (7 November 2024)
As part of a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, the Minister had planned to visit the Eleona French-owned church compound.
Without authorization, Israeli police entered the site carrying weapons. The Minister did not wish to visit the compound in these conditions.
When the delegation had departed, two staff members of the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem were arrested by Israeli police, despite the fact that they are officials with diplomatic status. They were then released following the intervention of the Minister.
As the Minister has stated, these actions are unacceptable. France strongly condemns these actions, with particular emphasis on the fact they took place in a context whereby France is doing everything it can to work towards the de-escalation of violence in the region.
The Israeli Ambassador to France will be summoned to the Ministry in the coming days.