On November 7, Israeli police entered the grounds of the Pater Noster Church on the Mount of Olives, briefly detaining two French security officers and igniting a diplomatic dispute. The site, managed by France for over 150 years, is one of four proper-ties in Jerusalem under French control, but this unprecedented breach has stirred deep concerns in Paris.
France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, had been set to visit the church complex–known as Eleona in French – but abruptly canceled after learning of the police intrusion, calling it “unacceptable.” France’s Mini-stry of Foreign Affairs responded swiftly, declaring it would summon Israel’s ambassador to address what it described as a violation of diplomatic protocol.