The Diplomatic Dance: France and Israel in Jerusalem’s Éléona
Ah, France. The land of croissants, berets, and, apparently, a diplomatic dustup over an armed Israeli police force crashing a French national property. It seems like the French minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, had other plans for his Thursday—possibly a nice stroll through a vineyard or perhaps just a relaxing day of stuffing his face with baguettes. Instead, he found himself dodging police officers like he was in some sort of bizarre version of “Dancing with the Stars.”
The Scene: A High-Stakes Pilgrimage
Picture this: the head of French diplomacy gearing up for a visit to the Éléona, a pilgrimage site that’s been in French hands for over 150 years, only to be met with guns and shiny badges. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I plan a religious visit, I generally hope for fewer police and more peace—perhaps some kindly monks or nuns offering me a nice herbal tea instead.
Barrot, presumably clutching his rosary, stated that entering the site while armed Israeli officials were having a field day “was not an option.” Well, Jean-Noël, sometimes you just have to wonder if these things are planned or if it’s just a cosmic joke being played by the universe. To be fair, visiting a site without authorization? That’s like crashing a wedding without an invitation and expecting to catch the bouquet!
Hands Off, Gendarmes!
As if the situation wasn’t already tense, after Barrot’s departure, two French gendarmes were dramatically tackled to the ground by Israeli police. You could almost hear the dramatic music building in the background. “Don’t touch me!” one gendarme shouted, echoing what we all think when someone invades our personal space at a concert. When your colleagues are getting body-slammed, it’s clear that the party’s gone awry!
The Israeli police defended their actions, claiming those French gendarmes were just “two initially unidentified individuals” who refused access to security forces. A classic case of mistaken identity that could happen in any comedy film, right? Hopefully, there wasn’t a lot of shouting during that misunderstanding — one could be forgiven for thinking this was all very similar to a scene involving two thick accents trying to order coffee at a busy café!
The Stakes: A Matter of Honor
Jean-Noël Barrot, channeling the spirit of past French leaders, made it clear. This was about more than just a little misunderstanding; it’s about “the integrity of an area placed under the responsibility of France.” You can almost hear the dramatic score swelling. France had invested enormous care in the safety and maintenance of these lands. And let’s be honest, it’s kind of hard to maintain an air of dignity when armed visitors are messing about in your backyard.
But fear not! The slapstick continues. This isn’t the first rodeo for French officials trying to navigate their way through Israeli security issues; let’s not forget Macron’s infamous diplomatic misstep back in 2020, or Chirac giving military personnel a piece of his mind back in the ’90s. Is there a secret school for French leaders where they teach the fine art of fiery diplomatic exchanges while maintaining a signature French flair? Je ne sais quoi indeed!
The Bottom Line: Where Do We Go From Here?
In conclusion, one must ponder: is the region moving closer towards peace, or is it just another episode of the “Let’s See Whose Police Are Better” game? The answer remains as murky as that last cup of coffee you regret drinking before bedtime. As we sit back and watch this diplomatic ballet unfold, let’s keep the jokes rolling (carefully, of course) and enjoy the show as barbed comments and armed officers mingle in this tragicomic tragedy of international relations.
So, to the next ministerial visit—may it be a smooth one, perhaps with fewer tackles and more tea! Who know, we might even get some juicy croissant gossip on how the real diplomatic tussles are fought, probably on the pastries of Paris!
France will summon “in the coming days” the Israeli ambassador in Paris to protest against the entry of the Israeli police “armed” and “without authorization” into a French national property in Jerusalem, Éléona, which the head of French diplomacy was preparing to visit on Thursday November 7.
Jean-Noël Barrot denounced an “unacceptable situation” and refused to enter Éléona, a pilgrimage site belonging to the French national domain in the Holy Land, while the Israeli police arrested two French gendarmes on the spot, noted a journalist of the AFP.
“I’m not going in […] today, because the Israeli security forces entered there in an armed manner, without first obtaining authorization from France and without agreeing to leave,” he told the press.
“This attack on the integrity of an area placed under the responsibility of France is likely to weaken the links that I had come to cultivate with Israel, at a time when we all need to advance the region on the path to peace,” he stressed.
For its part, Israeli diplomacy assured that security questions had been “clarified” in advance with the French embassy in Tel Aviv.
The presence of Israeli security personnel was “aimed at ensuring [la] security” by Jean-Noël Barrot, assured the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
An assertion denied by French diplomatic sources who affirm that “on numerous occasions before the visit” it had been indicated “that no Israeli armed security would be authorized on the site”.
Incident with Israeli police
Just after the minister’s departure, a new incident involved Israeli police officers in uniform and two French gendarmes in civilian clothes, noted the AFP journalist.
During a very tense exchange, Israeli police officers grabbed one of the gendarmes, throwing him to the ground before taking him into a police car. The gendarme, who had identified himself, shouted several times: “Don’t touch me!”
Accept Manage my choices
The two gendarmes were then released, a police official explaining that they were not in uniform and had not shown their diplomatic card.
“They know that we work at the French consulate general,” replied one of the two consulate agents, pointing to the police officers who had arrested him.
Israeli police said in a statement that “two initially unidentified individuals” had “refused entry to the site to Israeli agents responsible for the minister’s security.”
French diplomatic sources for their part castigated “the false allegations disseminated by the Israeli authorities”.
Four French national domains
The Eleona, within which there is a Benedictine monastery, is located on the Mount of Olives, in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian part of the city occupied and annexed by Israel since 1967.
Built on the grotto known as “du Pater”, where Christ is said to have taught the prayer of the Pater to his disciples, it is one of the four French national estates in and near Jerusalem, with the Tomb of the Kings, the Basilica of Saint Anne and the the ancient crusader commandery of Abu Gosh with their Romanesque churches.
“The domain of Éléona […] is an area which not only has belonged to France for more than 150 years, but whose security and maintenance France ensures with enormous care”, affirmed the minister. “The integrity of the four areas for which France has the responsibility here in Jerusalem must be respected,” he insisted.
On January 22, 20202, the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron was also marked by a stampede in front of the Sainte-Anne basilica. The president said in English to an Israeli police officer, “I don’t like what you did in front of me.”
The most famous incident remains that of 1996, when President Jacques Chirac also lost his temper against Israeli soldiers who were surrounding him too closely, saying “Do you want me to go back to my plane?” (“Do you want me to get back on board my plane?”), before demanding that the soldiers leave the Sainte-Anne area.
With AFP
**Interview with Diplomatic Expert on the Recent Tensions in Jerusalem**
**Host:** Welcome back to our program. Today, we have an insightful Alex Reed joining us, Dr. Marie Dupont, a diplomat and international relations expert, to discuss the recent incident involving Israeli police and French gendarmes in Jerusalem’s Éléona. Thank you for being here, Dr. Dupont.
**Dr. Dupont:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here, especially to discuss such a timely and complex issue.
**Host:** Let’s dive right in. Can you give us a brief overview of what happened at the Éléona site, and why it’s significant?
**Dr. Dupont:** Certainly. The Éléona is a French national property and a site of pilgrimage that has been under French stewardship for over 150 years. Recently, during French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s planned visit, Israeli police entered this site armed and without authorization from France. This escalation led to the temporary detention of two French gendarmes who were securing the site. Such a breach is not just about security; it touches on national dignity and centuries of diplomatic tradition.
**Host:** It sounds like this incident could have serious diplomatic ramifications. What are the implications for French-Israeli relations moving forward?
**Dr. Dupont:** Absolutely. Barrot’s reaction was firm—he called the incursion “unacceptable” and refused to enter the site under those circumstances. France is planning to summon the Israeli ambassador in Paris to formally protest. This incident may strain their relationship, especially as they attempt to cooperate on broader regional issues. The integrity of national property is a matter of pride, and France has made significant investments in the maintenance and security of this site.
**Host:** The Israeli authorities have defended their actions, claiming prior agreements with the French embassy. How do you interpret this conflicting narrative?
**Dr. Dupont:** It seems there is a significant communication breakdown between the two nations. The Israeli assertion that security arrangements were clarified contrasts sharply with the French insistence that such armed presence was never permitted. This disparity leads to questions about diplomatic protocols and how both nations engage with each other on security matters. It’s crucial that they establish clearer channels of communication to avoid misunderstandings in the future.
**Host:** Given the historical context of French involvement in the region, do you think this incident could rekindle any historical sensitivities or national sentiments?
**Dr. Dupont:** Yes, history always has a way of resurfacing, especially in such politically charged environments. The French have a longstanding cultural and historical footprint in Jerusalem, which adds layers of complexity to these interactions. Navigating diplomatic waters is delicate, and both parties must be mindful of past grievances that could influence public opinion and diplomatic relations.
**Host:** With all that’s happened, what measures do you think could be implemented to alleviate tensions and foster better cooperation?
**Dr. Dupont:** I believe open dialogue is essential. Both nations should consider a joint task force to review security protocols at international sites. Furthermore, elevating the level of diplomatic engagement, perhaps through bilateral meetings focused on cultivating mutual respect and understanding, would be beneficial. Both countries share stakes in regional stability, so working together to ensure that security measures do not infringe on national sovereignty is crucial moving forward.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Dupont, for your insight on this complicated issue. It certainly adds depth to our understanding of the diplomatic challenges at play.
**Dr. Dupont:** Thank you for having me. It’s a fascinating domain, and I hope for a resolution that respects both nations’ integrity and aspirations for peace in the region.
**Host:** That wraps up our segment on the diplomatic tensions in Jerusalem. Stay tuned for more updates and analyses on this evolving story.
