Israel, US rift with France widens as Paris rebukes US envoy: What to know
In a letter to President Emmanuel Macron and published in the Wall Street Journal, US ambassador to France Charles Kushner said recognition of a Palestinian state would "endanger Jewish life in France."
PARIS — Israel and the United States have intensified efforts against France's intention to recognize Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly summit in September, with senior Israeli and American officials accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of fueling antisemitism in Europe.
War of words
The latest episode in the widening diplomatic conflict began with a letter sent to Macron Aug. 25 by American ambassador to France Charles Kushner. The letter, published in the Wall Street Journal one day before it was sent, denounced the rise of antisemitism in France, saying that "public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France."
In the letter, the ambassador urged Macron "to act decisively: enforce hate-crime laws without exception, ensure the safety of Jewish schools, synagogues, and businesses, prosecute offenders to the fullest extent, and abandon steps that give legitimacy to Hamas and its allies."
