When Washington chose to firmly support its ambassador's criticism of the French response to a growing wave of antisemitism on Monday, a diplomatic spat between the United States and France intensified.
In response to a letter he wrote to President Emmanuel Macron criticizing his administration of failing to do more to combat antisemitism, US Ambassador Charles Kushner, the father of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, was told to report to the French foreign ministry on Monday.
The US and Israel reacted negatively to the summoning, even though it was not immediately apparent if the meeting had actually occurred.
Tommy Pigott, a spokesman for the State Department, stated, "We stand by his comments." "As the representative of the United States government in France, Ambassador Kushner is effectively furthering the interests of our country."
As international tensions rise over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, the dispute emerged amid worries about a rise in hate crimes and antisemitic incidents in France. Kushner accused France of a "lack of sufficient action" in his letter to Macron.
"The accusations from the ambassador are unacceptable," France shot back. When Kushner was called to the ministry on Monday and the Trump administration intensified its criticism, the division grew.
Gideon Sa'ar, the foreign minister, also denounced France's summons of Kushner as the "height of hypocrisy."
Sa'ar wrote on X in response to a post from the French embassy in Israel announcing the decision: "France preaches against 'intervention in the internal affairs of states,' rather than substantively addressing the issue of rising antisemitism in France. A good example of hypocrisy!
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Macron last week, sending a written ultimatum to the president asking him to take a more aggressive stand against antisemitism in France before Rosh Hashanah in late September. Macron's announcement that month that his government would recognize a Palestinian state was also denounced by Netanyahu, who claimed the action "pours fuel on this antisemitic fire."
Israel and the US were incensed when Macron said in July that France would formally recognize a Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly in September.
Kushner also claimed that such actions "embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France" in a letter to Macron that was made public to the media over the weekend.
"I have Jewish children and President Trump has Jewish grandchildren. Like all Americans, I understand his feelings toward antisemitism," he stated. In May, the Senate confirmed Kushner as France's ambassador. Her son Jared is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka.
"The rise in antisemitic acts in France since 7 October 2023 is a reality that we deplore and to which the French authorities are responding with total commitment, as these acts are completely unacceptable," France said in response to the ambassador's message, which it denounced.
Jews in France have reported that antisemitic incidents have increased since Hamas's violent October 7, 2023, onslaught on southern Israel, which killed some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and prompted Israel's military response.
.jpeg)
