France summons the U.S. ambassador in response to recent claims of rising antisemitism, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two allies.
France to invite the US ambassador to its capital, Paris, Charles Kushner, over claims of disagreement about accusations of failing short in handling a rise in antisemitism. Charles Kushner, a Jewish known for his fame and his son’s marriage to the daughter of US President Donald Trump, released the comments in an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron in the Wall Street Journal.
France Summons U.S. Ambassador
Echoing Israel’s criticism of France days earlier, Charles Kushner emphasized that there had been a serious rejection of Jews in France since the time the war in Gaza started. “France firmly refutes these latest allegations, which are ‘unacceptable”, said a foreign ministry statement, adding that Kushner would be due to appear on Monday.
Antisemitism surge response
As contained in the letter, the ambassador called on Emmanuel Macron to reduce the criticism of Israel and the stated examples of antisemitism, which he said had “long scarred French life”. Every day in France is filled with incidents of Jews being attacked in the street, synagogues or schools being trashed, or Jewish-owned businesses being vandalized. Even in preschools, antisemitic incidents have been documented by your own Interior Ministry.
Additionally, he stated that he was prepared to collaborate with Macron and other French officials to “forge a serious plan” to address the problem. The ministry emphasized that ambassadors were not allowed to meddle in a nation’s domestic affairs since the Vienna Convention of 1961.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echo
Kushner’s letter sounds comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who wrote a letter to Macron last week. In that letter, he made allegations against the French leader of promoting antisemitism by calling for international recognition of a Palestinian state.
France has announced it will officially recognize the State of Palestine in September 2025—a major shift in its foreign policy and a move that could reshape international conversations around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement with a clear message: peace in the Middle East can’t wait.
“We must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and make certain that, through demilitarization and full recognition of Israel, it contributes to the security of everyone in the Middle East,” Macron said. “There is no alternative.”
His words reflected both urgency and resolve, as France positions itself among a growing number of countries calling for a two-state solution. Macron’s stance is a balancing act—one that seeks to acknowledge Palestinian aspirations while reinforcing France’s strong opposition to antisemitism at home and abroad.
Antisemitism surge
Over the past year, antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in France, many of them sparked or intensified by the ongoing war in Gaza. Macron has responded by increasing security around Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers to protect France’s Jewish population—one of the largest in Europe.
The backdrop to this shift in French diplomacy is a conflict that continues to devastate lives. The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s military responded with a sweeping offensive in Gaza. Since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 60,000 people have been killed—many of them civilians, including large numbers of women and children.
Gaza catastrophic conditions
In recent weeks, conditions in Gaza have gone from dire to catastrophic. A global food security organization, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), officially confirmed what many on the ground have been warning for months: famine has taken hold in Gaza City. More than 500,000 people are now facing what the IPC describes as “catastrophic” conditions—meaning starvation, severe deprivation, and death on a massive scale.
Israel, however, has pushed back hard against these claims, calling the famine report an “outright lie.” Officials insist that there is no starvation in Gaza and say that humanitarian aid is being delivered. But human rights groups and aid organizations working in the region have painted a different picture—one of blocked access, insufficient supplies, and worsening despair.
As France prepares to move forward with its recognition of Palestine, reactions are already taking shape. Some countries see it as a bold gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Others, including key allies of Israel, may view it as a diplomatic misstep that could deepen divisions rather than heal them.
Still, for many observers, France’s decision may mark a pivotal moment—an attempt to shift the global conversation from endless cycles of violence to the possibility of a negotiated peace.
One thought on “Diplomatic Tensions: France Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Antisemitism Allegations”