France has strongly pushed back against accusations from Israel that European countries are fueling anti-Israel sentiment, calling the claims “outrageous and unjustified.” The remarks came
after two Israeli embassy staff were fatally shot outside a Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had blamed a climate of incitement—particularly by European leaders—for the attack, stating, "There is a direct line connecting anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder."
France’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected these claims. Spokesman Christophe Lemoine said, “France has condemned, condemns, and will always condemn anti-Semitism, clearly and unequivocally.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking from Nice, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and described the attack as a "horrific and blind act of violence."
The attack in Washington has heightened already rising tensions between Israel and several Western nations, which have grown increasingly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its humanitarian impact.
Earlier this week, the leaders of France, Britain, and Canada jointly condemned what they described as Israel’s "egregious actions" in Gaza. The statement opposed the ongoing offensive and restrictions on aid and warned of coordinated international consequences if such actions continue.
On the same day as the Washington shooting, the Israeli military fired what it described as "warning shots" near a group of European and international diplomats visiting the West Bank city of Jenin. Though no injuries were reported, the incident provoked backlash, with France and Italy summoning Israeli ambassadors and the EU urging accountability.
France has also seen a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, which officials say they are combating with full determination. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has ordered increased security at Jewish community sites.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “unacceptable” delays in delivering aid to Gaza. In response, Netanyahu accused Macron of siding with Hamas, the Islamist group Israel is fighting in the territory. Photo by Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, Wikimedia commons.