Detained Officials In Jerusalem, France Reminds Israel Not To Gegabah Enter The Holy Site It Manages

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot/PHOTO via X @jnbarrot

JAKARTA - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the incident in Jerusalem that caused Israeli armed security forces to enter a holy site managed by France should not happen again.

Two French security officials with diplomatic status were briefly detained on November 7 after Jean-Noel Barrot was scheduled to visit the Pater Noster Church complex in Bukit Zaitun.

The location, one of four holy sites managed by France in Jerusalem, is under Paris' responsibility. This is not the first time a problem has arisen regarding the historical ownership of France in the Holy City.

"This is an opportunity for France to reiterate that they will not tolerate Israeli armed forces entering this region, which is its responsibility (France), which guarantees protection", Barrot told France 24 television reported by Reuters on Tuesday, November 12.

"And reiterate that this incident should not happen again, meaning that Israeli forces entered armedly and without permission," he said.

The Israeli ambassador is scheduled to meet with Barrot's chief of staff at the foreign ministry today.

Israel's foreign ministry said any foreign leaders visiting would be accompanied by its security personnel, a matter that had been "previously clarified in a preparatory dialogue with the French Embassy in Israel".

Diplomatic relations between France and Israel have deteriorated since President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the offensive arms supply used in Gaza to Israel.

The French government is also trying to ban Israeli gun companies from holding exhibitions in Paris and becoming increasingly nervous over Israel's actions in the war in Gaza and Lebanon.