France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner to address claims that the nation has failed to combat a troubling rise in antisemitism. In an open letter published in the Wall Street Journal, Kushner, who is Jewish, echoed sentiments recently expressed by Israeli officials, stating that antisemitic incidents have surged in France since the onset of the Gaza war. The French Foreign Ministry has categorically rejected Kushner's allegations as "unacceptable", announcing that he will meet with officials on Monday to discuss the matter.
Kushner’s letter urged President Emmanuel Macron to mitigate his criticisms of Israel, citing grim statistics about antisemitism that he argues have scarred French society. He highlighted daily occurrences of assaults against Jews, damage to synagogues, vandalism of Jewish-owned businesses, and antisemitic incidents even in preschools, referencing reports from France’s own Interior Ministry.
Kushner expressed readiness to collaborate with Macron and French leaders on a substantial plan to tackle antisemitism. However, the French Ministry underscored that, per the 1961 Vienna Convention, ambassadors should refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of host countries. The US envoy's remarks closely followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent criticisms directed at Macron, in which he claimed that the French President’s calls for the global recognition of a Palestinian state contribute to increasing antisemitism.
Macron previously announced plans to formally recognize Palestine in September, asserting the necessity of establishing and ensuring the viability of a Palestinian state, which should recognize Israel and contribute to overall regional security. France has also heightened its security measures for synagogues and Jewish centers, in light of antisemitic incidents reportedly fueled by the Gaza conflict's escalation.
The Gaza conflict has claimed around 1,200 lives and taken more than 250 hostages following Hamas's assault on October 7. In retaliation, Israeli authorities launched strikes that have resulted in over 60,000 casualties in Gaza, according to figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. Famine conditions have been reported in Gaza City, with over half a million individuals facing dire circumstances labeled as "catastrophic," although Israel has dismissed these reports as falsehoods.
