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Israel-France relations
Ultra-Orthodox Jews wait among other visitors to enter the Tombs of the Kings, a 2,000-year-old archaeological gem in the heart of Jerusalem owned by France, as it reopens for the public for a second time in six months, on October 24, 2019. (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP)
October 24, 2019, 3:54 pm
France reopens disputed ancient tomb in Jerusalem to the public
After Tomb of the Kings was unbarred and quickly resealed by French authorities in June following dispute at opening, visitors allowed to tour 2,000-year-old site
By AFP and TOI staff
Hezbollah supporters take part in a rally to mark al-Quds day in Beirut, Lebanon, May 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
September 12, 2019, 7:40 pm
Rivlin warns Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah or face a war neither side wants
President tells incoming French ambassador that Beirut bears responsibility for all of terror group’s actions
By Stuart Winer
Illustrative image of a person being arrested. (BrianAJackson via iStock by Getty images)
August 28, 2019, 8:46 pm
French-Israeli man extradited to France to face charges for massive tax fraud
Michael Aknin, 39, allegedly sold carbon credits in France, then funneled €51 million to shell companies in East Asia to avoid tax payments
By TOI staff
Maccabi Haifa fans celebrate a goal during the UEFA Europa League preliminary round football match between Strasbourg and Maccabi Haifa at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on July 25, 2019 (Screen grab via sport1.co.il)
July 26, 2019, 5:45 pm
French authorities rescind ban on Israeli flag during Strasbourg soccer game
After protests, officials lift restrictions on Maccabi Haifa fans which they said were due to risk of anti-Semitic incidents; game ends with 3-1 loss for Israeli team
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Israel Democratic Party chair Ehud Barak (L), former Labor MK Stav Shaffir (C), Meretz chair Nitzan Horowitz, July 25, 2019. (Courtesy)
July 25, 2019, 2:23 pm
Polls give fledgling Democratic Camp between 8 and 12 Knesset seats
Labor tumbles to just 5 seats in two out of three TV surveys, Blue and White also suffers; ahead of potential right-wing merger, Ayelet Shaked’s New Right tops URWP in all polls
By Michael Bachner
This picture taken on July 22, 2019 shows buildings demolished by Israel in the area of Sur Baher in East Jerusalem. (Hazem Bader/AFP)
July 22, 2019, 8:15 pm
Bahrain, Jordan, France among those condemning Jerusalem area demolitions
Israel says buildings razed Monday in area under PA control were built too close to security barrier
By TOI staff and Agencies
Illustrative: A policeman holds handcuffs. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
July 2, 2019, 1:01 pm
Trial starts for Franco-Israeli man accused in carbon credits scam
Stephane Alzraa, who was extradited from Israel, charged with organized fraud, aggravated money laundering and criminal conspiracy in $57 million scheme
By TOI staff and AFP
An Israeli policeman prevents ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from entering the Tomb of the Kings site owned and administered by the French Consulate of Jerusalem because they did not pre-register their visit through the internet which they do not use for religious reasons, in East Jerusalem on June 27 2019. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
June 27, 2019, 5:39 pm
France reseals Jerusalem historic site after opening marred by dispute
Ultra-Orthodox Jews prevented from accessing Tomb of the Kings since they failed to register online, but try to enter anyway; Paris closes archaeological site until further notice
By AFP and TOI staff
Ultra-Orthodox men at the closed gate of the Tomb of the Kings, owned and administered by the French Consulate of Jerusalem, in East Jerusalem on January 24, 2019. (THOMAS COEX / AFP)
June 26, 2019, 1:18 pm
Jerusalem’s Tomb of the Kings to reopen to public
French-owned, Roman-era burial site to allow visitors for first time since 2010; some Jews, considering the tomb holy, have demanded the right to pray there
By AFP
Two US soldiers, shown in 1945 or 1946 inspecting a Rembrandt self-portrait in a salt mine where the Nazis stored stolen and hidden art (Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration)
June 5, 2019, 9:46 pm
France ramps up bid to return stolen WWII Jewish assets
Thousands of artifacts plundered by Nazis still held in French museums; government vows ‘active role’ to find owners
By AFP
Helene Le Gal during a ceremony for new ambassadors at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, December 12, 2016. (Isaac Harari/FLASH90)
April 30, 2019, 1:16 pm
Israel rebukes French envoy over colleague’s ‘apartheid’ accusation
Hélène Le Gal summoned to Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem over statement by Paris’s outgoing Washington ambassador; Gérard Araud says he was referring to the West Bank only
By Raphael Ahren
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on December 10, 2017. (AFP PHOTO/ Ludovic MARIN/File)
April 21, 2019, 9:44 pm
Israel said to reject ‘immoral’ French demand to resume tax transfers to Abbas
Paris implores Israel to renew payments — frozen because of PA’s funding for families of terrorists; Jerusalem replies that to do so would breach Europe’s anti-terror principles
By TOI staff
French national Romain Franck (R), then 24, a worker at the French consulate, and Palestinians Moufak al-Ajluni (L) and Mohamed Katout (C) appear in court in the Israeli city of Haifa on March 19, 2018, to face charges of smuggling guns from Gaza. (AFP Photo/Jack Guez)
April 8, 2019, 4:30 pm
Israel jails French consulate worker for Gaza gun smuggling
Romain Franck sentenced to seven years with a NIS 30,000 fine for using diplomatic car to ferry weapons from Gaza to West Bank
By AFP
Blue and White party No. 2 Yair Lapid meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, April 5, 2019. (Facebook screenshot)
April 6, 2019, 5:53 am
Emmanuel Macron meets with Yair Lapid four days before Israeli elections
Blue and White No. 2 and French president said to discuss Middle East, Iranian threat and anti-Semitism in Europe
By JTA and TOI staff
French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace on February 8, 2019 in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP)
April 5, 2019, 11:55 am
Four days before elections, Lapid to powwow with France’s Macron
Blue and White’s No. 2 had endorsed his ‘friend’ in 2017; the two will meet at the Elysee Palace to discuss Middle East issues and European anti-Semitism
By Raphael Ahren
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