France considers cutting cooperation with Mossad, booting Israeli diplomats

The Macron government is drafting a list of possible steps to take against Israel if the diplomatic row over its recognition of a unilateral Palestinian statehood escalates this month.

By World Israel News Staff

France is weighing a series of possible punitive measures against Israel in the event of a dramatic escalation of the ongoing row between Paris and Jerusalem, including the possible mass expulsion of Israeli diplomats and downgrading of security ties with Israel’s Mossad agency, Le Figaro reported.

Relations between Israel and France have chilled in recent months amid growing pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron on Israel to end its ongoing war against the Hamas terror organization in Gaza, as well as his government’s plans to formally recognize unilateral Palestinian statehood at the United Nations this month.

The latter move drew sharp criticism from Israel, which is mulling a series of steps in response to France’s planned recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Israel’s response is expected to include expanded development of settlements in Judea and Samaria, with the application of Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria also on the table.

Furthermore, Jerusalem is considering shuttering France’s consulate in Jerusalem, an office that has operated since 1843 and now offers consular services to French Jews living in the Israeli capital and serves as a de facto mission to the Palestinian Authority.

Separately, France maintains an embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, which serves French nationals living in Israel outside of Jerusalem.

On Tuesday, Le Figaro reported that should Israel shut down the consulate, Paris will reciprocate with its own set of punitive steps. The list of measures under consideration by the Macron government include expelling Israeli diplomats from France and downgrading ties between French security agencies and Israel’s Mossad.

The Mossad has a long history of cooperation with France’s intelligence agency, the DGSE, with the Israeli agency maintaining offices in Paris in exchange for providing French authorities with security intel.

Tuesday’s report indicated that while Macron is considering the unprecedented step of limiting Mossad activity in France, his government is not prepared to end the Mossad’s presence entirely, given its role in aiding local security agencies. Instead, France would merely cut the number of Mossad agents permitted to operate in the country.