Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Israeli envoy faces French rebuke over al-Quds church incident

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 12 Nov 2024 22:14
3 Min Read

The dispute arose last Thursday when Israeli police stormed the Eleona Church on the Mount of Olives without authorization and detained two French guards.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    The flags of France, "Israel" and the European Union are pictured at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 (AP)

Israeli news outlets on Tuesday reported that "Israel's" Ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, will meet with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris for a formal reprimand following a diplomatic dispute involving Israeli police and French diplomatic staff at a "French-owned" church in occupied al-Quds.

The dispute arose last Thursday when Israeli police stormed the Eleona Church on the Mount of Olives without authorization and detained two French guards with diplomatic visas, sparking tensions.

The guards, employed by the French Consulate in occupied al-Quds, were detained during a scuffle just before Barrot's planned visit to the historic site.

This is crazy: Israeli police arrests 2 French military personnel ("gendarmes") with diplomatic status in a Christian church (the Eleona Church) that has officially belonged to France for 160 years and is protected by diplomatic immunity: pic.twitter.com/LjSkNJpaIs

To make things…

— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) November 8, 2024

A statement from the French government condemned the Israeli forces' actions, stating, "without having been authorized to do so, Israeli security forces entered the site armed." Barrot ultimately canceled his visit, citing the unauthorized intervention as a primary reason.

"Israel's" Foreign Ministry later claimed that the guards were detained after refusing to identify themselves but were released once they presented their diplomatic credentials. However, French officials insist that the release only occurred after Barrot's direct intervention.

Read more: EU may launch new sanctions against Israeli settlers 'soon'

Related News

Netanyahu allegedly signals readiness to end Gaza war in first

Israeli forces raid West Bank villages amid settler violence

Strained relations

The incident took place just as France has been reportedly working to de-escalate regional tensions, adding to the diplomatic strain.

Lately, diplomatic tensions between France and "Israel" have intensified following French President Emmanuel Macron's recent call to halt arms shipments to "Israel".

Macron has called for an end to arms exports to "Israel" to prevent further escalation, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the embargo proposals by Western leaders "shameful".

Read more: Macron to attend France-'Israel' football match

France has also been pressuring "Israel" to cease its aggression on Lebanon. During a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in mid-October, Macron expressed grave concern over the intensity of "Israel's" strikes on Lebanon and their "dramatic" impact on civilians.

He emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and reaffirmed France's unwavering commitment to the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security, in accordance with UN Resolution 1701.

The Resolution was reached in the wake of the 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon and calls for the full cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to Southern Lebanon, as well as the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line buffer zone [between Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories] and the Litani River.

"Israel" completely disregarded the resolution in the aftermath of the war, continuously violating Lebanese sovereignty with overflights from its aircraft.

Read more: 76 Rights groups set to file lawsuit to arrest Smotrich in Paris

  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Al-Quds
  • Eleona Church
  • Joshua Zarka
  • France
  • Jean-Noël Barrot

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS