Esther Imonmion
Israel is weighing the closure of France’s Consulate-General in Jerusalem in retaliation for Paris’ plan to recognise a Palestinian state, diplomatic sources and media reports said on Monday.
The move, which officials say remains under discussion at senior levels, would mark a dramatic escalation in already strained ties between the two countries. Other options reportedly on the table include restricting bilateral cooperation, expelling diplomats, and tightening policies in the West Bank.
The tension follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement in July that Paris would formally recognise a State of Palestine, a decision Israel condemned as hostile. Conservative Israeli groups and some media have since urged the government to act, citing allegations that organisations backed by the French consulate have engaged with figures tied to Palestinian militancy.
While no closure order has been formally issued, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged that the consulate’s status is “under review.”
France, however, insists it has received no official notice. Its Foreign Ministry has warned that any closure would “seriously harm” bilateral relations and vowed a “strong response” if such a step were taken.
The French Consulate-General in Jerusalem, established in the 19th century, plays a unique role in maintaining ties with Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Analysts say shutting it down would send a strong symbolic message but could jeopardise decades of cooperation on security, intelligence, and diplomacy.
For now, the option remains one of several under consideration, but both governments are bracing for the fallout should Israel move ahead.