Israel has escalated tensions with France following Paris' decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state, with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskel warning that the closure of the French Consulate General in Jerusalem is now under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's consideration. The move comes as Israel faces growing international pressure over its military operations in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the territory.
Haskel's remarks, made during an interview with France Info on Friday, follow Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's direct appeal to French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot to reconsider the recognition initiative. Sa'ar reportedly stated that French President Emmanuel Macron would not be welcome in Israel while the proposal remains active, calling it a threat to regional stability and Israel's security interests.
The diplomatic clash intensified after Macron announced France's recognition plans during a UN meeting in September, a decision subsequently echoed by several Western nations including the UK, Portugal, and Canada. Netanyahu criticized these moves as violations of historic Israel-Palestine Liberation Organization agreements requiring negotiated solutions to territorial disputes, vowing unilateral countermeasures without specifying details.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added fuel to the fire by warning that recognition efforts could push Israel toward annexing parts of the occupied West Bank—a prospect that drew sharp condemnation from the United Arab Emirates. An Emirati official stated such action would cross a "red line," complicating regional dynamics established through the 2020 U.S.-brokered normalization agreements.
As maps for potential West Bank annexation circulate among Israeli officials, the international community watches nervously. Over 34,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have died since Hamas' October 7 attacks, according to health authorities, with Gaza's infrastructure left in ruins and 85% of its population displaced.
