France will summon its U.S. envoy, according to its Foreign Ministry—in response to an incendiary open letter in the Wall Street Journal.
Charles Kushner, whose son married the daughter of U.S. president Donald Trump, urged President Emmanuel Macron to thoroughly enforce French hate-crime laws and reduce his criticism of Israel. Specifically, he alleged that French recognition of a Palestinian state has boosted the level of antisemitic violence in France.
Kushner’s letter claims
I write out of deep concern over the dramatic rise of antisemitism in France and the lack of sufficient action by your government to confront it …. In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalised.
It cites a long history of antisemitism in French politics and society, undergoing an explosive resurgence following the Hamas-led October 7 pogrom in 2023. According to the ministry, it also broke the 1961 Vienna Convention, banning ambassadors from interfering in a host country’s internal affairs. Kushner would—set to be summoned to the foreign ministry on Monday, August 25—was told
France firmly refutes [i.e. denies—eds.] these latest allegations…The Ambassador’s allegations are unacceptable.
Macron is at the forefront of European Union criticisms of Israel’s war of self-defence in Gaza, including recognising a Palestinian state—regardless of the consequences for Jews. As Kushner observed, Macron also presides over a growing wave of antisemitism at home.
