by Jerusalem Post Staff
Israel's threat to shut France's Jerusalem consulate sparks warnings from Paris, raising tensions ahead of potential recognition of Palestinian statehood.
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Israel is considering shutting down France’s Consulate General in Jerusalem, prompting warnings of retaliation from Paris, Le Figaro reported on Tuesday.
A senior source close to French President Emmanuel Macron told the newspaper that the Israeli Foreign Ministry had informed France of the potential move.
The consulate, established in 1843 in the western part of Jerusalem, handles France’s diplomatic relations with the Palestinians in east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It also serves around 25,000 French citizens living in the city’s western half.
“Law matters and, in law, Jerusalem is a corpus separatum [a special-status entity],” a French presidential adviser said. “We can refuse this closure to the Israelis. They also have an embassy in Paris. If they want to play, we can play.”
The adviser added that France contributes significantly to Israel’s security, citing its firm stance on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Paris considers countermeasures
A diplomat at the Quai d’Orsay told Le Figaro that France would respond with “extremely firm measures that the precepts of the art of war prevent me from detailing at this stage, but which would go further than the usual mirror measures.”Among the potential responses under review: closing an Israeli consulate in France or reducing the number of diplomatic passports issued to Israeli officials.
However, a French official noted that “our consulate in Jerusalem is a fully fledged diplomatic post, not a simple consulate,” indicating that symmetrical measures may not be deemed sufficient.
Other options being weighed include restricting French diplomatic staff in Jerusalem or contesting long-standing French property claims in the city, such as the Tomb of the Kings in east Jerusalem.
Despite the rhetoric, some officials admit France’s tools are limited. “On the bilateral level, one lever would be to expel Israeli diplomats in Paris,” said one diplomat familiar with Israel. “But at the European level, sanctions are impossible as long as Germany and Hungary oppose them.”
Visa freeze seen as early signal
In recent months, France has declined to renew or issue visas for El Al Israel Airlines security staff stationed at French airports. These employees had previously been treated as part of Israel’s diplomatic mission. Paris reportedly viewed the move as a response to what it described as “systematic checks” on French diplomats boarding El Al flights.Sources close to Macron pointed to other aspects of cooperation, such as intelligence-sharing on Iranian drones and the Iranian nuclear file. A French diplomat said that France also provides top-level security for Israel’s ambassador in Paris. “He is accompanied by French security officers with vehicles and flashing lights whenever he leaves the embassy.” The diplomat said this protection would not be reduced.
At the Élysée Palace, officials still hope that Israel will reconsider. “We need to keep our heads,” one source told the paper, noting that Spain and Turkey have maintained their consulates in Jerusalem even after recognizing Palestine.
The same source questioned whether Israel would also shut down the consulates of Belgium and the United Kingdom, which are expected to follow France’s lead on Palestinian recognition later this month.
Despite speculation, the French Foreign Ministry stated clearly that it is not considering opening an embassy in Ramallah. “We are not currently considering opening an embassy in Ramallah,” the Quai d’Orsay said. French officials emphasized that doing so would contradict France’s position on Jerusalem, whose status must be determined through negotiation.
France, like most countries, does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over east Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866876
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