France summons US ambassador to Paris

The French Foreign Ministry has summoned US Ambassador to the country Charles Kushner after he sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron saying that France had not done enough to curb anti-Semitic violence, Reuters reported, citing a foreign ministry spokesman in Paris.

“France is aware of the allegations made by US Ambassador Charles Kushner, who in a letter to the President of the Republic expressed his concern about the increase in anti-Semitic acts in France and noted the alleged lack of sufficient action by the French authorities to combat them“, the French ministry said in a statement released on Sunday.

It noted that “the allegations of ambassador are unacceptable“.

“Public statements edifying Israel and gestures toward recognizing a Palestinian state encourage extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish lives in France. In today's world, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism – plain and simple”, Kushner wrote to Macron.

Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, who is the husband of US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.

In late July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country's intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the annual session of the UN General Assembly in September.

A few days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also accused Macron in a letter of “inciting anti-Semitic sentiment” in France with his call for international recognition of a Palestinian state.

"I am concerned about the alarming rise of anti-Semitism in France and the lack of decisive action by your government in response to it. In recent years, anti-Semitism has taken hold in French cities," Netanyahu wrote.