The post French FM reprimands Israeli envoy after incident at French-owned church in Jerusalem appeared first on The Times of Israel.

France’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s ambassador following an incident involving Israeli security forces during a visit last week by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Jerusalem

France accused Israel on Thursday of harming bilateral ties after Israeli security forces entered a holy site under French administration in Jerusalem and briefly detained two French officials with diplomatic status.

French gendarmes, who were accompanying Jean-Noël Barrot on his trip, were briefly arrested by Israeli police. The episode happened at a time of heightened diplomatic tension between Paris and Israel.

Israeli security last week arrested 2 French staffers with diplomatic status, later released them following intervention by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot - Anadolu Ajansı

The French foreign ministry says armed Israeli police forced their way into a French-owned church compound in the contested city of Jerusalem, briefly detaining two consulate members and prompting the top French diplomat to abandon his planned visit to the site.

France condemned the unauthorized entry of Israeli security agents into a French-owned church site in Jerusalem and their arrest of two consulate staffers.

Israeli police entered a French-owned church compound in Jerusalem on Thursday, briefly detaining two gendarmes and prompting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to abandon a scheduled visit, an AFP journalist reported.