As France stated it would recognize Palestine as an independent state, Israel strongly countered by alluding to the possibility of closing the French consulate in Jerusalem. France immediately warned that this would "trigger a strong response," escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
On the 20th (local time), according to major Israeli media such as the Times of Israel, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the French consulate in Jerusalem. This is a retaliatory measure against French President Emmanuel Macron's declaration last month that he would officially recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, becoming the first among the Group of Seven (G7) leaders. Amichai Chikli, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs, also urged the closing of the consulate, stating, "Bold actions are needed from France."
France reacted immediately. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, "We have not received any official notification regarding the consulate's closure from the Israeli authorities," but warned that "this move could seriously damage bilateral relations and provoke a strong response." Frédéric Journé, the French Ambassador to Israel, also appeared on local radio, stating, "We will not let (the Israeli response) go quietly."
The French consulate in Jerusalem, at the core of the bilateral conflict, holds a very special status. This consulate has existed since before Israel was established in 1948. It symbolizes France's historical role in protecting Christian holy sites and believers in Jerusalem since the 16th century. For this reason, it operates separately from the French embassy in Tel Aviv. Its main function is to manage diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA), not the Israeli government. Israel has regarded this consulate as "a thorn in its side."
Israel currently categorizes the movement among Western countries, led by France, to recognize Palestine as a state as "a reward for terrorism" and is making every effort to thwart it. In a letter sent to President Macron, Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized, saying, "Recognizing Palestine as a state fuels anti-Semitism." Israel has also applied strong pressure by recently canceling the visa of an Australian diplomat who recognized Palestine as a state.
Despite Israel's opposition, President Macron is not backing down. On the 20th, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing Israel's operations in Gaza Strip and reaffirming his support for the two-state solution (coexistence of Israel and Palestine). Following France's announcement, other Western countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have also consecutively announced plans to recognize Palestine as a state, deepening Israel's diplomatic isolation.