France Summons US Envoy for ‘Unacceptable’ Antisemitism Comments – Bloomberg
France has summoned the US ambassador to Paris, Charles Kushner, after he accused the country of failing to tackle rising antisemitism. French officials called his remarks “unacceptable” and said they strongly reject the allegations.
Kushner, who is Jewish and related to former US President Donald Trump through his son Jared Kushner, made the claims in an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron published in The Wall Street Journal.
In the letter, Kushner echoed Israel’s recent criticism of France, saying antisemitism had surged since the Gaza war began. He described France as a place where “not a day passes without Jews being assaulted, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized.” He urged Macron to ease his criticism of Israel and said he was ready to work with French leaders on a serious plan to combat antisemitism.
The French foreign ministry responded by stressing that, under international law, ambassadors are not allowed to interfere in a country’s internal affairs. Kushner has been asked to appear on Monday.
Kushner’s comments follow a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also accused Macron of fueling antisemitism by supporting the recognition of a Palestinian state. France has said it will officially recognise Palestine in September.
President Macron defended the decision, saying the move is meant to support peace in the Middle East. He has repeatedly condemned antisemitism as being against French values and has increased security around synagogues and Jewish centers.
The backdrop to this dispute is the ongoing Gaza war, which began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has since killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Last week, a famine was confirmed in Gaza City, with over half a million people facing what experts describe as “catastrophic” conditions. Israel has denied reports of starvation, calling them “an outright lie.”
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