France summoned the United States ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, after he wrote a letter in which he accused the French government of “insufficient action” to counter antisemitism.
The French Foreign Ministry firmly rejected these “unacceptable” remarks, noting that they do not reflect the character of the transatlantic relations between the United States and France.
In a statement the ministry noted: the rise of antisemitic acts in France since October 7, 2023 is a reality that French authorities are fully confronting because of the unacceptable nature of such acts.
France’s reaction to the letter and subsequent actions
On Monday, Kushner is to be summoned to the ministry’s headquarters in Paris, the department said.
CNN reached out to the White House and the U.S. State Department for comment.
According to a copy of the letter provided to CNN by the U.S. Embassy, Kushner said he wrote it with “deep concern” about the situation in France.
“Antisemitism has long left its mark on French life, but it exploded after the barbaric Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Since then extremists sympathetic to Hamas and radical activists have been leading a campaign of intimidation and violence across Europe.”
– Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law
The letter, dated Monday, August 25, was addressed to President Emmanuel Macron.
Kushner, who was confirmed to the post in May, urged Macron to strengthen the enforcement of hate crime laws regardless of the circumstances and to put more effort into ensuring the safety of the Jewish community.
“In France, attacks on the Jewish community occur daily – on the streets, in synagogues or schools – or on Jewish property are damaged,” he said.
“Public statements that focus on Israel and steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state incite extremists, fuel violence and threaten Jewish life in France,” Kushner added in response to France’s and several other Western countries’ announcements to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
He also urged the French president to “refrain from steps that lend legitimacy to Hamas and its allies,” while citing steps by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“President Trump has Jewish children and shared Jewish grandchildren. I know how he regards antisemitism, as do all Americans.”
– Kushner
Last week Israel launched a series of diplomatic actions against several Western allies, preparing to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
In response, Netanyahu sent Macron a sharply critical letter, accusing France of a decision that “encourages Hamas terrorism.”
“Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic flame,” Netanyahu wrote in a letter released by CNN.
France called this step an attempt to revive a bilateral approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to bring peace to the region, but Israel and the United States sharply criticized the initiative, calling it “an encouragement of terror” that could undermine peace efforts.
Macron noted that France’s plans to recognize a Palestinian state reflect its “historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Australia and France are among the latest Western countries to announce plans to recognize a Palestinian state; Canada and Portugal have also voiced similar intentions. Next month they will join more than 140 countries that already recognize Palestinian statehood.
The United Kingdom said it would recognize a Palestinian state only if Israel fulfils its obligations, including a ceasefire in Gaza.