Israel-France relations

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President Reuven Rivlin wave at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 18, 2021. (Ludovic Marin/AFP)

March 18, 2021, 9:29 pm

Alongside Rivlin, France’s Macron says Iran must stop violating nuclear deal

IDF chief tells French president that Lebanon has been taken ‘captive’ by Hezbollah and that Israel has ‘thousands of targets picked out’ in case of need for retaliation

By TOI staff and AFP

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, right, is welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron on his arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 23, 2019. (ludovic Marin/AFP)

March 18, 2021, 3:05 pm

Rivlin urges France to oppose ICC’s ‘legally, morally bankrupt’ war crimes probe

Ahead of meeting with Macron, president pens op-ed in French daily, warning that investigation could hurt peace efforts and insisting that Israel respects international law

By TOI staff

A member of Civil Protection checks air travellers documents at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Paris, February 5, 2021. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool via AP)

March 11, 2021, 5:38 pm

France eases travel rules for seven countries, including Israel

‘Compelling reason’ no longer required for trips to and from selected destinations, though negative test still needed

By AFP and TOI staff

President Reuven Rivlin shakes hands with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on January 22, 2020. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

March 11, 2021, 1:16 pm

Rivlin, IDF chief to visit 3 European countries to discuss Iran threat

Presidents of Germany, France, and Austria invite Israeli counterpart for meetings about Tehran’s nuclear program, ICC war crimes probe

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on February 4, 2021 (Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

February 5, 2021, 11:40 am

Macron: Israel, Saudis must be involved in new talks on Iran nuclear deal

US National Security Council said set to hold urgent meeting on Tehran’s nuclear program, as French president offers to be ‘honest broker’ in negotiations

By TOI staff

French Prime Minister Jean Castex (C), flanked by Director General of Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP) Martin Hirsch (L) and French Health and Solidarity Minister Olivier Veran (2L) visits a COVID-19 testing unit set up to screen arriving passengers at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport on July 24, 2020 (Christophe PETIT TESSON / POOL / AFP)

July 24, 2020, 11:37 pm

France to test its nationals arriving from 16 countries, including Israel

French citizens and residents arriving from Israel, US and 14 other countries will be quarantined if positive for COVID-19; non-residents from these countries are already barred

By AFP

Protesters demonstrate against Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank during a rally in Brussels, Belgium, on June 28, 2020. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images via JTA)

July 15, 2020, 9:42 am

EU ministers said seeking list of deterrents to warn Israel off annexation

Envoys ask policy chief Borrell to draw up possible ‘legal consequences’ in bid to stop West Bank move, saying time is short; British PM talks with Abbas, reiterates opposition

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meets with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 24, 2018. (GPO)

July 10, 2020, 12:13 pm

In phone call, France’s Macron asks Netanyahu to drop West Bank annexation bid

French president ’emphasized that such a move would contravene international law,’ says his office; PM says he ‘clarified Israel is acting in accordance with international law’

By AFP and TOI staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right0 gives a joint statement with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry prior to their meeting at his Jerusalem office on July 10, 2016. (AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON)

July 7, 2020, 2:08 pm

Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany warn annexation may hurt ties with Israel

Also, Netanyahu tells UK’s Boris Johnson that Israel remains committed to peace negotiations with Palestinians based on ‘creative and realistic’ Trump plan

By Raphael Ahren

Illustrative: Pope Francis meets Oren David, the new Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of letters of credentials, at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (L'Osservatore Romano/ANSA via AP)

July 2, 2020, 1:36 am

Vatican summons Israeli, US ambassadors to protest annexation plans

Holy See calls on Israel and the Palestinians to return to dialogue; France warns that unilateral Israeli steps would have ‘consequences’

By TOI staff

French Ambassador to Israel Eric Danon (courtesy French Embassy Tel Aviv)

June 1, 2020, 12:14 pm

French envoy: We’re not making threats, but annexation will have consequences

Eric Danon also explains why Paris won’t outlaw Hezbollah, what’s next for French aliyah and how he defied diplomatic tradition to become France’s first Jewish ambassador to Israel

By Raphael Ahren

An Israeli flag is seen in the E1 area of the West Bank on January 2, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 19, 2020, 10:11 pm

France warns annexation in West Bank could hurt Israel’s ties with EU

In joint statement with Palestinian Authority PM, German FM says extension of Israeli sovereignty over settlements, Jordan Valley would be ‘a clear violation of international law’

By Raphael Ahren and Alexander Fulbright

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks in Aachen, Germany, Jan. 22, 2019. (Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images via JTA)

May 12, 2020, 9:23 am

EU ministers expected to weigh punitive response to West Bank annexation

Reportedly led by France, European nations seek to warn Israel of sanctions from its largest trading partner if it declares sovereignty over parts of territory

By TOI staff

Marseille's mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin chairs a town council, on January 27, 2020 at Marseille city hall. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP)

February 26, 2020, 9:13 am

Marseille mayor signs letter calling Tel Aviv ‘ex-Palestine’

French Jewish group complains about letter to resident born in Israeli city; municipality says description carried over from official records

By Cnaan Liphshiz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands at an overview overlooking the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, where he announced a new neighborhood is to be built, February 20, 2020. (Debbie Hill/Pool via AP)

February 25, 2020, 10:02 am

US gave PM green light for Givat Hamatos construction 1.5 years ago – report

Netanyahu said international pressure prevented announcement until less than 2 weeks before elections, but report says he knew White House had already okayed controversial project

By TOI staff