France Summons US Ambassador Over Antisemitism Accusations Amid Diplomatic Strain

France has summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner to formally protest his open letter accusing the French government of insufficiently combating a rise in antisemitic acts, which Kushner linked to France's criticism of Israel and gestures toward recognizing a Palestinian state. Kushner, who is Jewish and father to Jared Kushner—President Donald Trump's son-in-law—urged French President Emmanuel Macron to apply hate crime laws more urgently and reduce his criticism of Israel, equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. The French Foreign Ministry strongly rejected Kushner's allegations as "unacceptable," emphasizing that French authorities are fully mobilized to address antisemitism and that such accusations violate international law and principles of non-interference, thereby damaging the transatlantic partnership. The diplomatic rift occurs amid broader tensions between France and the U.S., including disagreements over the Gaza conflict, UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, and support for Ukraine. Kushner's letter appears coordinated with a similar letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both viewed as pushback against France's diplomatic plans to recognize a Palestinian state, which has prompted several countries to announce similar intentions. The U.S. government has expressed support for Kushner's role, while France maintains its position that the rise in antisemitic acts is being actively addressed.