France has formally summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to the French foreign ministry, declaring his recent letter to President Emmanuel Macron on the topic of rising antisemitism “unacceptable.” The diplomatic rebuke occurred on Monday following the public release of the ambassador’s criticisms.
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement rejecting the allegations. It stated that French authorities are “fully mobilized” in the fight against a surge in antisemitic acts since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Content of the Disputed Letter on Antisemitism
In his letter, Ambassador Kushner alleged that France was not doing enough to combat rising antisemitism. He argued that Macron’s public statements critical of Israel and gestures toward recognizing a Palestinian state “embolden extremists, fuel violence and endanger Jewish life in France.”
Kushner urged Macron to take decisive action, including enforcing hate-crime laws without exception, ensuring the safety of Jewish community sites, and abandoning steps he claims give legitimacy to Hamas. The White House and State Department have stated they stand by the ambassador’s comments.
France’s Firm Rejection and Diplomatic Protocol
The summoning of an ambassador is a serious diplomatic step signaling profound displeasure. The French ministry stated that Kushner’s accusations violate international law by interfering in France’s internal affairs.
Furthermore, the ministry said the allegations “fall short of the quality of the transatlantic partnership between France and the United States and of the trust that must prevail between allies.” This incident underscores the delicate balance in Franco-American relations, even between allied nations.
Broader Context of the Diplomatic Strain
This dispute follows French President Macron’s recent rejection of similar accusations from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, has seen a documented increase in antisemitic incidents, which it condemns as “intolerable.”
The tension also arrives amid other Franco-American disagreements, including policy on U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and approaches to the war in Ukraine. According to a report from the Associated Press, these frictions have been a feature of the relationship this year.
This event highlights how deeply divisive the issue of rising antisemitism and Middle East policy continues to be on the global stage, testing even longstanding alliances.
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