The post French FM reprimands Israeli envoy after incident at French-owned church in Jerusalem appeared first on The Times of Israel.

France’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s ambassador following an incident involving Israeli security forces during a visit last week by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Jerusalem

France accused Israel on Thursday of harming bilateral ties after Israeli security forces entered a holy site under French administration in Jerusalem and briefly detained two French officials with diplomatic status.

Israeli police entered the Eleona church site, which France has claimed as its own since 1948, and briefly arrested two gendarmes, then freed them. France's Foreign Ministry said it would soon summon Israel's ambassador.

The French foreign ministry says armed Israeli police forced their way into a French-owned church compound in the contested city of Jerusalem, briefly detaining two consulate members and prompting the top French diplomat to abandon his planned visit to the site.

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

France condemned the unauthorized entry of Israeli security agents into a French-owned church site in Jerusalem and their arrest of two consulate staffers.