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France summons the Israeli ambassador after the incident in Jerusalem

The French Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Israeli ambassador to inform him that an incident in Jerusalem in which Israeli security forces entered a French-run compound should never be repeated.

Two French security officials with diplomatic status were briefly detained last week after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was scheduled to visit the site of the Pater Noster Church on the Mount of Olives in occupied East Jerusalem.

The site, one of four French-managed sites in Jerusalem, is under the responsibility of Paris.

The French Foreign Ministry said the Israeli ambassador had been informed of the presence of armed Israeli security forces and that the arrest of French officials was “unacceptable”, especially between allies with close ties.

“Measures are being taken to ensure that such acts are not repeated,” it said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that visiting foreign heads of state would be accompanied by Israeli security personnel, which was “clarified in advance in preparatory dialogue with the French Embassy in Israel.”

Relations between France and Israel have deteriorated in recent months, particularly since President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the supply of offensive weapons to Israel. France also recently tried to ban Israeli arms companies from attending a trade fair in Paris.