Diplomatic incident at the Jerusalem church site, which is under French ownership

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Adds statements from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, police, details and quotes

Israeli police entered a French church compound in Jerusalem on Thursday, briefly detaining two gendarmes and prompting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to cancel a planned visit, an AFP journalist reported.

Barrot said the standoff at the Eleona church compound in annexed East Jerusalem was “unacceptable,” and the Foreign Ministry in Paris later said the Israeli ambassador was being summoned over the incident.

Israel's Foreign Ministry claimed security protocol for the visit had been “clarified” in advance, and police said the French gendarmes did not identify themselves and obstructed the work of Israeli forces.

The AFP journalist saw Israeli police surrounding the two French gendarmes, who were not wearing uniform, and pushing one of them to the ground.

The gendarme identified himself and shouted “Don’t touch me” several times, said the journalist.

Both gendarmes were then taken into police cars before being released.

Barrot said at the scene: “I will not enter the Eleona domain today because Israeli security forces entered with weapons without prior French authorization, without agreeing to leave.”

The Eleona site, one of four French sites that make up the French state domain in the Holy Land, “not only has belonged to France for more than 150 years, but France also ensures and maintains its security,” he said.

“The integrity of the four areas for which France is responsible here in Jerusalem must be respected,” Barrot added.

Police issued a statement saying they were simply doing their jobs.

“Two initially unknown individuals in the monastery attempted to prevent the minister’s ISA (Shin Bet Internal Security Agency) security personnel from carrying out their duties by denying them access to the premises,” Israeli police said.

The Sanctuary of Eleona and the three other French-owned national domains have been at the center of diplomatic incidents in the past.

The national domain was assigned to France before the founding of Israel and is administered as private property by the French Consulate in Jerusalem.

AFP footage showed police telling the gendarmes accompanying Barrot that they would have to show their ID cards next time.

“I understand, I'm sorry,” one of the gendarmes replied, but added that the officers who arrested him knew who he was.

“You know we work at the French consulate because we argued with each other about whether this place is French or not,” the gendarme said.

Barrot said the “violation” on the church grounds “could weaken the relationship with Israel that I came here to cultivate at a time when we all need to help the region move forward toward peace.”