After a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that diplomats weren’t doing enough to combat anti-Semitism, France summoned American ambassador Charles Kushner to Paris. This was reported by the French Foreign Ministry on Sunday, which deemed Kushner’s accusations as “unacceptable.” They also stated that U.S. diplomats were called to meet with them regarding this on Monday.
Kushner, who identifies as Jewish, had expressed in his letter that a recent government statement from France regarding the Palestinian state contributed to anti-Semitic incidents in the country. He mentioned, “A public statement harms Israeli efforts to acknowledge the rising extremism, fuels violence, and threatens Jewish lives in France. In today’s climate, anti-Zionism equates to anti-Semitism.”
Kushner also called on Macron to take significant action, emphasizing the need to enforce laws against hate crimes rigorously, to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and businesses, while rejecting anything that might embolden Hamas and its supporters.
In response, the French Foreign Ministry firmly denied Kushner’s claims and stated that since the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, French authorities have been actively working to counteract rising anti-Semitism. They argued that Kushner’s assertions breach international law and should not interfere with the internal matters of another country, highlighting the importance of the trust within the transatlantic alliance.
Nonetheless, the U.S. State Department backed Kushner’s perspective, with spokesman Tommy Piggott mentioning that he represents U.S. interests effectively in France.
Macron has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing tensions regarding the conflict in Gaza, while President Donald Trump has remained a steadfast supporter of Israeli leadership.
Kushner, a real estate developer, is notably the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka. Additionally, at the conclusion of his first presidential term, Trump granted clemency to Charles Kushner, who had previously pleaded guilty to tax fraud and illegal campaign contributions.
