US Ambassador's Criticism of Combating Anti-Semitism: Same Tone as in Benjamin Netanyahu's Letter

In a letter, Charles Kushner, the American ambassador to Paris, strongly denounced France's fight against anti-Semitism and spoke of "a lack of sufficient government action." These reservations did not go down well and led to him being summoned by Paris on Monday.

The American ambassador to Paris was summoned to the Quai d'Orsay on Monday, August 25, which is very rare. Paris did not appreciate Charles Kushner's comments. In a letter to Emmanuel Macron, he criticized the way France is fighting anti-Semitism ; his remarks were undiplomatic. In this letter addressed to the President of the Republic and sent to the press on Sunday, Charles Kushner expressed "his deep concern about the surge in anti-Semitism and the government's lack of sufficient action to combat it." "I urge you to act decisively," continued the ambassador, who is Jewish and is also the father of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

He lists in passing all the measures that Donald Trump has put in place, according to him, to fight anti-Semitism and advises Emmanuel Macron to apply the laws relating to hate crimes, to guarantee the security of Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses and, this is the central point, "to abandon initiatives that serve to legitimize Hamas and its allies."

The ambassador clearly criticizes France's recognition of a Palestinian state. He states earlier in his letter that "gestures in recognition of a Palestinian state encourage extremists, foment violence, and endanger Jewishness in France." This letter strikes the same tone as that used by the Israeli Prime Minister in his letter sent a week ago to Emmanuel Macron. "Your call for a Palestinian state fuels the anti-Semitic fire and rewards Hamas's terror," said Benjamin Netanyahu. Paris reacted strongly, calling it "an erroneous and abject analysis." We are still awaiting the written response that the French president promised to send to the Israeli prime minister.

In this case, it is the American ambassador to France who is making the criticism, not Donald Trump directly. With this letter, the United States is once again demonstrating its support for Israel, just weeks before the UN General Assembly, at which France will formally recognize the State of Palestine.

France wants to show that it will not give in to pressure. The Quai d'Orsay reacted quickly on Sunday evening. The American ambassador's statements violate international law, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which cites the 1961 Vienna Convention. It requires non-interference in the internal affairs of states. France fundamentally refutes the allegations and says it is "fully mobilized" in the face of the rise in anti-Semitic acts.