France Summons US Ambassador Charles Kushner Over Antisemitism Allegations
1. A Diplomatic Firestorm Between Paris and Washington
The French government has summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner after a scathing open letter he published in the Wall Street Journal, accusing France of failing to combat rising antisemitism. The move has sparked a diplomatic spat between two longtime allies and further highlighted the growing tensions between France, the United States, and Israel.
Kushner, who is Jewish and the father of Jared Kushner — Donald Trump’s son-in-law — wrote directly to French President Emmanuel Macron. His letter, timed to coincide with the 81st anniversary of the Allied liberation of Paris during World War II, carried a deeply symbolic undertone.
“I write out of deep concern over the dramatic rise of antisemitism in France and the lack of sufficient action by your government to confront it,” Kushner declared. He described a France where “not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized.”
The letter quickly reverberated across European and American political circles, with the French Foreign Ministry blasting the accusations as “unacceptable” and accusing Kushner of overstepping his diplomatic role. By invoking the Vienna Convention of 1961, French officials reminded Washington that ambassadors are barred from interfering in a host country’s domestic affairs.
Kushner is now scheduled to appear at the French Foreign Ministry on Monday, where officials are expected to deliver a formal rebuke.
2. Macron Pushes Back, France Defends Its Record
France’s foreign ministry wasted no time in rejecting Kushner’s claims, saying the allegations “do not reflect reality” and insisting the French government has taken significant measures to protect its Jewish community.
Macron, who has repeatedly called antisemitism “antithetical to French values,” has increased police protection at synagogues and Jewish schools since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The French president has also spoken out strongly against antisemitism during public appearances, often linking it to the dangers of political extremism.
But Macron has also been one of the loudest critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military campaign in Gaza. His call for recognizing a Palestinian state has drawn outrage from both Netanyahu and pro-Israel voices in the United States. According to reports, Netanyahu himself wrote a letter to Macron last week accusing him of “contributing to antisemitism” by publicly pushing for Palestinian statehood.
In its defense, the French Foreign Ministry pointed out that antisemitism is not unique to France and has spiked globally since the start of the Gaza conflict. French officials noted they have arrested suspects involved in antisemitic crimes and passed stricter hate crime laws in recent years.
3. Kushner’s Message: “Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism”
Kushner’s letter echoed talking points long advanced by Israeli leaders and pro-Israel advocates in the United States. He argued that France’s criticism of Israel’s Gaza offensive and its move to recognize Palestinian statehood were fueling antisemitism at home.
“Public statements haranguing Israel and gestures toward recognition of a Palestinian state embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France,” Kushner wrote. “In today’s world, anti-Zionism is antisemitism — plain and simple.”
Kushner’s intervention carried added political weight because of his family ties. His son Jared Kushner played a key role in Middle East policy under former President Donald Trump, particularly in negotiating the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. Jared’s marriage to Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism, has also kept the Kushner family deeply connected to Jewish and pro-Israel issues.
While Charles Kushner’s open letter was framed as a personal appeal, his role as a sitting U.S. ambassador has raised eyebrows. Many in France view his actions as a breach of diplomatic norms, potentially worsening already fragile relations between Paris and Washington.
4. The Bigger Picture: France, Israel, and a World on Edge
This diplomatic skirmish comes at a time of extraordinary tension in global politics. Since Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis and triggered Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, antisemitic incidents have risen sharply in Europe and the United States. France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community — around half a million people — has been particularly affected.
Macron’s decision to push for recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations this September was a landmark move, putting France at odds with Israel and the United States. France is now set to join over 147 UN member nations that recognize Palestinian statehood. For Macron, the move reflects both international pressure and domestic realities — France also has Europe’s largest Muslim population, which has been vocal about Palestinian rights.
Kushner’s letter may further complicate transatlantic ties. While Trump has remained a staunch supporter of Israel, Macron has positioned himself as one of Netanyahu’s most outspoken Western critics, particularly over the heavy civilian toll in Gaza. The contrast has laid bare a widening policy gap between Washington, Paris, and Jerusalem.
For now, France insists it will not be lectured on its internal affairs, while Kushner and his allies argue the stakes are too high to stay silent. Whether this escalates into a larger diplomatic rift or remains a symbolic clash will depend on how both governments handle Monday’s meeting.
But one thing is clear: at a time when the world is still reckoning with the aftershocks of war in Gaza, even the language of diplomacy is proving combustible.
