France has announced it will summon the United States ambassador to Paris, Charles Kushner, over what it describes as “unacceptable” accusations that the country has failed to address rising antisemitism. The move comes after Kushner published an open letter in the Wall Street Journal directed at French President Emmanuel Macron.
In the letter, Kushner, who is Jewish and the father-in-law of Ivanka Trump, claimed that antisemitism in France had surged since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. He urged Macron to moderate his criticism of Israel and work on what he described as a “serious plan” to combat antisemitic acts that, he argued, have “long scarred French life.”
“In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized,” Kushner wrote, citing data from France’s Interior Ministry that included incidents even in preschools.
Kushner’s remarks closely echoed those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who last week accused Macron of fueling antisemitism by supporting international recognition of a Palestinian state. France has said it plans to formally recognise Palestine in September, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from both Israel and pro-Israel voices in Washington.
The French Foreign Ministry issued a firm response, rejecting Kushner’s claims. “France firmly refutes these latest allegations,” the statement read, calling them “unacceptable.” It further stressed that, under the 1961 Vienna Convention, foreign ambassadors are prohibited from interfering in a host country’s internal affairs.
France has long acknowledged antisemitism as a national challenge, but officials insist that efforts to counter it remain robust. Macron has frequently condemned antisemitic acts and pledged greater protection for Jewish communities, while balancing his government’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The diplomatic row underscores growing tensions between Paris, Washington, and Jerusalem at a time of heightened conflict in the Middle East. While France seeks to push forward its recognition of Palestine as part of a broader push for peace, both Israel and its allies continue to press European leaders to stand more firmly behind Israel.
Kushner is expected to appear before France’s Foreign Ministry on Monday.
