The setting was nevertheless conducive to the party, this Tuesday evening in the very chic 8th arrondissement of Paris. Near Monceau Park, the Israeli embassy invited several dozen guests (political, diplomatic, military) to celebrate Israel’s 76th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of relations between our two countries. A sign of the importance of the event, the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, made the trip to Paris. But this evening of diplomatic harmony and friendship did not go as planned.
The Israeli minister’s trip to Paris was planned before Monday’s thunderclap, when the prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, requested the issuance of arrest warrants against three Hamas leaders, but also against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yoav Galant. Subsequently, on Wednesday, Ireland, Spain and Norway announced their recognition of the Palestinian state. “These are difficult days for Israel,” agrees a diplomatic source in Paris.
Stayed facing the din of the room
Karim Khan’s announcement provoked the anger of the Jewish state, but also of certain allies: Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States strongly denounced these requests against Israeli leaders. French diplomacy has reaffirmed its support in principle for the International Criminal Court. No more no less. “We said what we had to say, simply that we respect the independence of the International Criminal Court,” assures a French diplomat. “We disagree with the idea of any equivalence between Israel and Hamas. France’s position is balanced.”
This “balance” goes down badly with Israeli diplomacy, which hopes for unfailing support from France on this issue. So, to celebrate Franco-Israeli friendship in the reception room of the Hôtel du Collectionneur this Tuesday evening, suffice to say that Stéphane Séjourné was expected around the corner. After a gentle introduction from the Israeli ambassador in Paris, Joshua Zarka, listened to politely by a very quiet room, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs took the podium. Very quickly, the atmosphere changes.
As soon as the formal thanks were given, a hubbub disrupted Stéphane Séjourné’s speech. Two women turn around to listen to his speech from behind. While the minister assures that “France indeed stands alongside Israel”, he senses the unease rising and interrupts: “Um, there is really a problem with the microphones this evening. Do you hear me? ” Laughter in the room, several people respond: “Yes, and that’s the problem…”
While the head of French diplomacy lists Paris’ demands for peace in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the noise continues to grow. “The immediate and unconditional release of the hostages, a ceasefire, massive access to humanitarian aid, critical progress on the two-state political solution,” continues Séjourné. After barely five minutes of speech and some applause all the same, the French minister returned to his seat. The rest will not be more pleasant.
“I turn here to my friend, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs…”
It is the turn of the Israeli Foreign Minister to take the podium. Israel Katz speaks in Hebrew, with his speech projected in French on the big screen. Member of Likud, Netanyahu’s party, the head of Israeli diplomacy immediately attacks Karim Khan and his request for an arrest warrant against his Prime Minister: “This is a scandalous decision which constitutes a frontal attack unrestrained action against the victims of October 7. The attorney general has transformed the truth into lies and the lies into truth.”
Then, in an undiplomatic manner, he directly calls Stéphane Séjourné to witness: “I turn here to my friend the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. Faced with this shameful and scandalous proposal from the Attorney General, your support and that of the French government are essential that you state loud and clear that the Attorney General’s proposal is shameful and scandalous, and therefore unacceptable for you and for the French government.” With each salvo, the Israeli minister received wild applause from the room. “We understand why Macron flew to New Caledonia this evening, he was scared when he saw the Israeli minister arrive in Paris,” mocks an opposition elected official in the room.
At the conclusion of the speeches, after the French anthem then the Israeli anthem, each delegation leaves in its own direction. Stéphane Séjourné is attacked by one of the women who listened to his speech from behind. This is Alexandra Barouche, elected by the Republicans of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, who criticizes him for the condolences sent by France to Iran after the death of President Raïssi and Paris’ support for the International Criminal Court. “I’m comfortable in my sneakers,” replies the minister, before leaving.
In Stéphane Séjourné’s entourage, we recognize disagreements with Israeli diplomacy, but “no particular tensions”. “Minister Katz has expressed his position, so have we,” explains a close friend of the French minister. “There is not a cigarette paper between the position expressed by France this week on the ICC and that which has been ours throughout throughout the 21st century. Israel knows that France is its friend, but that friends can say things to each other.”
The two ministers met this Wednesday for a bilateral meeting, with undoubtedly many sensitive subjects to discuss. In private this time.
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