French Foreign Ministry rejects US ambassador Charles Kushner’s claims that Paris is insufficiently addressing anti-Semitism.
France has requested a meeting with US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he authored a letter to President Emmanuel Macron criticizing France’s response to anti-Semitic violence. The open letter, published in the Wall Street Journal, contained assertions that France’s critique of Israel and its intentions to acknowledge a Palestinian state were inadequate and possibly encouraging of anti-Semitic sentiments.
“Public statements criticizing Israel and moves towards recognizing a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and jeopardize Jewish life in France,” claimed Kushner in his letter. He asserted, “In today’s world, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism—plain and simple.”
Paris promptly rebutted the ambassador.
“France strongly disagrees with these allegations,” the Foreign Ministry’s statement asserted on Sunday. “The ambassador’s claims are uncalled for.”
France stated in its Foreign Ministry statement that it is “completely dedicated” to combating anti-Semitism.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement also said that Kushner’s comments were in violation of international law, particularly the principle for diplomatic personnel to avoid meddling in the internal matters of states.
“Overall, such remarks run contrary to the strong trans-Atlantic relations between France and the United States and contradict the trust due to allies,” the statement remarked.
Israel, according to numerous human rights organizations, has been enforcing deadly conditions on the Palestinians in Gaza, whom it has repeatedly displaced and moved to demolish the enclave that houses 2 million people, killing dozens daily.
Recently, France and several Western countries have declared plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while still preserving their trade, diplomatic, and security ties to Israel. Nonetheless, this has annoyed Israel and its principal ally, the US.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law and former advisor to US President Donald Trump, is the father of Charles Kushner. He was pardoned by Trump during his first term after being convicted of tax evasion and witness tampering in 2005.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a similar letter to Macron last week, which also connected France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state to anti-Semitism.
Macron’s office quickly dismissed Netanyahu’s allegations as “baseless and veiled,” stating that they “will not go unchallenged.”
According to rights activists, supporters of Israel frequently raise accusations of anti-Semitism to divert attention from the nation’s offenses against Palestinians and stifle the discussion on the subject.
“Public statements criticizing Israel and moves towards recognizing a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and jeopardize Jewish life in France,” claimed Kushner in his letter. He asserted, “In today’s world, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism—plain and simple.”
Paris promptly rebutted the ambassador.
“France strongly disagrees with these allegations,” the Foreign Ministry’s statement asserted on Sunday. “The ambassador’s claims are uncalled for.”
France stated in its Foreign Ministry statement that it is “completely dedicated” to combating anti-Semitism.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement also said that Kushner’s comments were in violation of international law, particularly the principle for diplomatic personnel to avoid meddling in the internal matters of states.
“Overall, such remarks run contrary to the strong trans-Atlantic relations between France and the United States and contradict the trust due to allies,” the statement remarked.
Israel, according to numerous human rights organizations, has been enforcing deadly conditions on the Palestinians in Gaza, whom it has repeatedly displaced and moved to demolish the enclave that houses 2 million people, killing dozens daily.
Recently, France and several Western countries have declared plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while still preserving their trade, diplomatic, and security ties to Israel. Nonetheless, this has annoyed Israel and its principal ally, the US.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law and former advisor to US President Donald Trump, is the father of Charles Kushner. He was pardoned by Trump during his first term after being convicted of tax evasion and witness tampering in 2005.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a similar letter to Macron last week, which also connected France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state to anti-Semitism.
Macron’s office quickly dismissed Netanyahu’s allegations as “baseless and veiled,” stating that they “will not go unchallenged.”
According to rights activists, supporters of Israel frequently raise accusations of anti-Semitism to divert attention from the nation’s offenses against Palestinians and stifle the discussion on the subject.
