Israel-France relations

Travelers seen in the departure hall at the Ben Gurion International Airport, on July 19, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

September 11, 2021, 6:34 am

France, Switzerland impose entry restrictions on unvaccinated Israelis

New regulations effectively ban travel for Israelis who haven’t had shot; both countries will still permit Israelis to travel if they are inoculated

By TOI staff

Knesset member Yael German at a committee meeting in the Knesset on January 1, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

August 16, 2021, 12:54 pm

Parlez-who? Lapid’s pick for Paris posting pilloried for being sans French

Yael German is widely respected, but without mastery of the language and diplomatic experience, many experts question whether she is the right person for the important task

By Lazar Berman

Blue and White MK Yael German attends an event in Kfar Saba, on March 8, 2019. (Flash90)

August 5, 2021, 12:30 pm

Lapid taps former health minister Yael German as Israel’s ambassador to France

Foreign minister announces appointment, as his office rejects reported criticism over incoming envoy’s lack of fluency in French

By Stuart Winer

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is greeted by his French counterpart Florence Parly in Paris on July 28, 2021. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

July 29, 2021, 6:57 am

Gantz said to assure France that Macron’s phone not hacked with NSO spyware

During Paris visit, defense minister tells French counterpart that espionage allegations against Israeli firm being taken seriously; ministers also discuss Iran, weapons in Lebanon

By TOI staff

In this file photo taken on August 28, 2016, a woman walks outside the building housing the Israeli NSO group, in Herzliya. (Jack Guez/AFP)

July 28, 2021, 10:50 pm

Defense Ministry officials ‘visit’ NSO Group in first probe following spy exposé

Move comes as Gantz visits Paris, after reports emerge Macron, French parliamentarians were among those tracked with company’s cyber surveillance technology

By Judah Ari Gross

Defense Minister Benny Gantz leads a Blue and White faction meeting at the Knesset on July 26, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 10:34 am

Gantz heads to Paris to discuss NSO Group with French counterpart

Macron reportedly called Bennett last week to press Israel to investigate claims over Pegasus spyware, including that his phone may have been a target

By TOI staff

French parliamentarians meet President Isaac Herzog (right) in Jerusalem, July 20, 2021 (Mark Neyman/GPO)

July 21, 2021, 6:23 pm

Iran, terror concerns are changing France’s ties with Israel, say visiting MPs

40 French parliamentarians meet with top Israeli leaders, with some sounding alarm over Hezbollah’s grip over Lebanon, antisemitism in France

By Lazar Berman

Then-Yesh Atid MK Ronen Hoffman, Israel's next ambassador to Canada, during a committee meeting in the Knesset, May 30, 2013. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

July 19, 2021, 3:13 pm

Lapid taps ex-party MK for long-vacant Canada ambassador post

Ronen Hoffman, currently university lecturer, tapped for Ottawa post empty since January 2020; minister working on filling Paris and Canberra spots too

By Lazar Berman

President Isaac Herzog (L) and French Ambassador Eric Danon at a Bastille Day celebration, Jaffa, July 14, 2021 (Lazar Berman/Times of Israel)

July 15, 2021, 1:42 am

French envoy to Israel: Iran should never possess nuclear bomb

Eric Danon uses Bastille Day event address to highlight strong bilateral ties, which countries hope to further bolster following periodic strains of Netanyahu era

By Lazar Berman

(L-R) US House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Gregory Meeks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and US Embassy in Israel Charge D'affaires Michael Ratney at the US Embassy's Independence Day celebration on July 5, 2021. (Ziv Sokolov/US Embassy in Jerusalem)

July 13, 2021, 2:42 pm

German, French envoys said to have boycotted US embassy’s July 4 Jerusalem event

Report says ambassadors didn’t want to attend celebration since their countries don’t recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and embassy is located on disputed site

By TOI staff

French Consul General in Jerusalem Rene Troccaz decorates Palestinian human rights lawyer Raji Sourani with his county's National Order of Merit, at the French Institute in Gaza City, on July 7, 2021. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

July 11, 2021, 4:15 pm

France gives high honor to lawyer who pushed Palestinian cause at ICC

Consul general to Jerusalem gives National Order of Merit to Raji Sourani, who represented hundreds of Gazans at The Hague; Israel accuses him of maintaining close ties with Hamas

By Lazar Berman

Then-education minister Naftali Bennett (L) and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid during a ceremony at Netiv Ha'avot, at the West Bank's Elazar settlement, on July 23, 2017. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

June 24, 2021, 5:05 pm

Lapid works to fill long-vacant posts of ambassador to France, Canada, Australia

Key diplomatic positions were left empty by last government, some for over a year

By Lazar Berman

French Ambassador to Israel Eric Danon in 2019 (Courtesy Foreign Ministry)

May 27, 2021, 4:46 pm

Israel dresses down French envoy for FM’s ‘Israel at risk of apartheid’ warning

FM Ashkenazi tells ambassador that comment by Le Drian was ‘far from reality’ and a prize to terrorists; says Israel expects its friends not to drive anti-Israel activities

By TOI staff and Agencies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (r) meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on March 26, 2018. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

May 26, 2021, 7:56 pm

Netanyahu slams France for ‘insolent’ claim Israel at risk of apartheid

‘We will not suffer any hypocritical and false moral rebukes on this matter,’ says PM, following lament by French foreign minister on lack of peace talks, Jewish-Arab violence

By TOI staff and Agencies

Israeli residents and rescue teams are pictured outside a building hit by a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip, in the southern city of Ashdod, on May 17, 2021. (Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)

May 21, 2021, 12:48 pm

International community welcomes ceasefire, calls for restarting peace talks

EU vows to increase efforts for political solution; Germany says work must be done on causes of conflict; France hails ‘fundamental role’ played by Egypt as a mediator

By AFP and TOI staff