{"id":373438,"date":"2025-08-25T22:44:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T22:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/373438\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T22:44:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T22:44:17","slug":"us-doubles-down-on-support-for-envoy-to-france-after-antisemitism-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/373438\/","title":{"rendered":"US doubles down on support for envoy to France after antisemitism row"},"content":{"rendered":"

PARIS, France \u2014 A diplomatic row between the United States and France escalated on Monday when Washington decided to stand firmly behind its ambassador\u2019s criticism of the French response to a rising tide of antisemitism.<\/p>\n

US Ambassador Charles Kushner, the father of US President Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law, was ordered to report to the French foreign ministry on Monday over a letter he penned to President Emmanuel Macron<\/a>, accusing his government of not doing enough to combat antisemitism.<\/p>\n

It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had taken place, but the summoning nonetheless sparked backlash from the US and Israel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand by his comments,\u201d State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. \u201cAmbassador Kushner is our US government representative in France and is doing a great job advancing our national interests in that role.\u201d<\/p>\n

The controversy erupted amid concerns about an increase in antisemitic acts and hate crimes in France, as international tensions mount over Israel\u2019s war against Hamas in Gaza. Kushner, in his letter to Macron, accused France of a \u201clack of sufficient action.\u201d<\/p>\n

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France retorted that \u201cthe allegations from the ambassador are unacceptable.\u201d The rift deepened on Monday when Kushner was summoned to the ministry and the Trump administration doubled down on his critique.<\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar also criticized France\u2019s decision to summon Kushner, calling the move the \u201cheight of hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Responding to a post from the French embassy in Israel announcing the decision, Sa\u2019ar wrote on X: \u201cInstead of addressing the issue of the rising antisemitism in France in a substantive manner \u2014 France preaches against \u2018interference in the internal affairs of states.\u2019 The height of hypocrisy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar speaks at the Muni Expo 2025 conference in Tel Aviv, on July 15, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni\/Flash90)<\/p>\n

Macron came under fire from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, in which the premier issued a written ultimatum to the president demanding he take a firmer stance against antisemitism in France by Rosh Hashanah in late September. Netanyahu also condemned Macron for announcing his government would recognize a Palestinian state that month, saying the move \u201cpours fuel on this antisemitic fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

In July, Macron said France would formally recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September, sparking anger from Israel and the US.<\/p>\n

In a letter to Macron that was released to the news media over the weekend, Kushner similarly alleged that such gestures \u201cembolden extremists, fuel violence and endanger Jewish life in France.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Trump and I have Jewish children and share Jewish grandchildren. I know how he feels about antisemitism, as do all Americans,\u201d he wrote. Kushner, whose son Jared is married to Trump\u2019s daughter Ivanka, was confirmed as France\u2019s ambassador by the Senate in May.<\/p>\n

France condemned the ambassador\u2019s letter, but noted: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antisemitism reaching \u2018intolerable levels\u2019<\/p>\n

Members of France\u2019s Jewish community have said the number of antisemitic acts surged following Hamas\u2019s brutal attack on Israel\u2019s south on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, triggering Israel\u2019s military response.<\/p>\n

Last week, a group of 150 young Israeli tourists was refused entry to a leisure park in the south of France. Prosecutors said they had placed the manager of the park under investigation on suspicion of discrimination based on ethnic origin or nationality.<\/p>\n

In another incident this month, an olive tree planted in memory of Ilan Halimi, a young Jewish man tortured to death in 2006, was felled outside Paris,<\/a> stirring outrage in France and prompting condemnation from its politicians.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/p>\n

The trunk of the olive tree, presumably cut down with a chainsaw, which was planted in 2011 in front of a memorial to Ilan Halimi, in Epinay-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris, August 15, 2025. (Dimitar DILKOFF\/ AFP)<\/p>\n

Macron vowed punishment over the act of \u201cantisemitic hatred,\u201d while Prime Minister Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou said that \u201cthe never-ending fight against the deadly poison of hatred is our primary duty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between January and June 2025, 646 antisemitic acts were recorded in France, compared to 891 acts in the same period last year, according to figures released by the interior ministry on Monday. However, the 2025 figure is more than double the 304 acts recorded between January and June 2023.<\/p>\n

France is home to Western Europe\u2019s largest Jewish population at around half a million people, as well as a significant Muslim community.<\/p>\n

On Monday, French Equality Minister Aurore Berge defended the government\u2019s actions regarding antisemitism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe French government\u2019s fight against antisemitism is unambiguous,\u201d Berge told broadcaster Europe 1-CNews. \u201cThe issue is too serious. In my opinion, it is too important to be used as a diplomatic bargaining chip.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Delegate Minister for Gender Equality and Fight against Discriminations Aurore Berge takes part in a posthumous award ceremony of the \u2018Righteous Among the Nations Medal and Diploma,\u2019 the highest distinction created and issued by the State of Israel, for Jeanne and Jean Philippeau in Vendome, France on June 16, 2025. (Jean-Francois Monier\/AFP)<\/p>\n

She also acknowledged the rise in antisemitic incidents in the West, saying she believes it has \u201creached levels that are absolutely intolerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patrick Klugman, a lawyer for several French victims of the October 7 attacks, said antisemitism in France had reached historic levels, but defended the French government.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past six years, no antisemitic murder has been committed in France, while sadly several have occurred in the United States. The contrast is striking,\u201d he said on X. \u201cNo country is in a position to lecture others, and all must revise their approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n


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