Anti-Semitism: Macron's "lack of sufficient action" singled out by the American embassy

In a letter addressed to the head of state obtained this Sunday, August 24, by AFP, the American ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, expressed "his deep concern at the surge in anti-Semitism in France and the lack of sufficient action by (his) government to combat it."

These criticisms come a few days after Benjamin Netanyahu's violent attack on the French president , whom he accused of "fueling the anti-Semitic fire" by calling for international recognition of the State of Palestine.

An analysis that was "erroneous, abject , and (which) will not remain unanswered," the French presidency replied. Paris is therefore summoning the American ambassador this Monday, August 25, following his "unacceptable" accusations.

"The ambassador's allegations are unacceptable. They violate international law, particularly the duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of states, as provided for in the 1961 Vienna Convention, which governs diplomatic relations," the Foreign Ministry stressed on Sunday.

In his letter, dated Monday, the American ambassador echoed Mr. Netanyahu 's argument. "Statements that vilify Israel and gestures in recognition of a Palestinian state encourage extremists, foment violence and endanger Jewishness in France," said Mr. Kushner, who is also the father of Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

"Today, it is no longer possible to procrastinate: anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, period," he believes.

According to the ambassador, "not a day goes by in France without Jews being attacked in the streets, synagogues and schools being damaged, and Jewish-owned businesses being vandalized. Your own government's Interior Ministry has noted that nursery schools have been targeted for anti-Semitic vandalism."

The US representative in France is also outraged that "almost half of young French people say they have never heard of the Holocaust."

"The persistence of such ignorance therefore pushes us to question the school curriculum in French schools," he adds.

Praising President Trump 's actions in this area and his ability to "fight anti-Semitism, as long as our leaders have the will to act," the American ambassador to France urged the French president "to act with resolve."

At the end of July, Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. Following this, more than a dozen Western countries, including Canada and Australia, called on other countries around the world to do the same.

The UN General Assembly, scheduled for September, ends precisely on the 23rd, the day of the Jewish New Year, and the date before which Benjamin Netanyahu calls on Emmanuel Macron "to replace weakness with action, appeasement with will" in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Anti-Semitic acts have been on the rise in France since October 7, 2023, the date of the unprecedented attacks by Hamas against Israel and the outbreak of the war in Gaza .

The context is particularly delicate since France is home to the largest Jewish community in Western Europe, with around 500,000 people, as well as a very large Arab-Muslim community, which is very sensitive to the fate of the Palestinians in Gaza.