Paris summons US ambassador over comments on antisemitism

French government rejects allegations

In an official statement, the French Foreign Ministry firmly rejected the ambassador’s remarks, calling them unacceptable. The ministry reaffirmed that France is fully committed to combating antisemitism and strongly refuted the allegations made by Ambassador Kushner.

Diplomatic lines crossed

The Foreign Ministry condemned Kushner’s comments as a violation of international norms, highlighting the duty of diplomatic personnel to avoid interference in internal affairs of host countries. It warned that such actions undermine the transatlantic relationship and the trust between allies.

Criticism of France’s antisemitism response

In his letter, Ambassador Kushner asserted that antisemitic sentiment has surged since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which sparked the Israel-Hamas conflict. He accused France of having taken insufficient measures to address the rising threat.