French Foreign Minister Cancels Visit to Jerusalem Holy Site Following Arrest of French Gendarmes

Friday 08 November 2024 - 07:34

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot canceled his planned visit to a historic holy site in Jerusalem, overseen by France, after armed Israeli police entered the site and briefly detained two French gendarmes.

The French government has since summoned Israel’s ambassador to discuss the incident, which has added to existing tensions around the Eleona sanctuary on the Mount of Olives. This sanctuary, along with three other sites, is part of France’s national domain in the Holy Land, a designation dating back to before the establishment of Israel in 1948. These sites are maintained by the French consulate in Jerusalem and have been a source of previous diplomatic disputes.

An AFP journalist on-site reported that Israeli police entered the sanctuary, surrounding the two French gendarmes, one of whom was reportedly pushed to the ground. The gendarme, identified by his uniform, repeatedly shouted, "Don’t touch me," before both were placed in police vehicles and later released.

The reasons behind the Israeli police's actions remain unclear.

Expressing frustration, Barrot declared he would not proceed with his visit to the Eleona domain due to the armed entry by Israeli forces without French authorization. He condemned the situation as “unacceptable,” noting it threatened the very diplomatic ties he intended to strengthen with Israel. Barrot emphasized the significance of French care over the Eleona, saying, “France has safeguarded this site for over 150 years, ensuring its security and preservation. The sanctity of all four sites in Jerusalem under French responsibility must be respected."

The Eleona sanctuary, home to a Benedictine monastery, is located on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. It holds the Pater cave, where, according to tradition, Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

Past incidents have similarly tested French-Israeli relations. In January 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron openly criticized an Israeli police officer outside the Sainte-Anne basilica amid a crowd, saying, “I don’t like what you did in front of me.” Years earlier, in 1996, then-President Jacques Chirac demanded that Israeli soldiers move away from him during his visit to the same site, exclaiming, “Do you want me to go back to my plane?”

These repeated diplomatic strains underscore the delicate nature of managing internationally significant religious sites in Jerusalem.