Israeli police briefly arrest two French officials in ‘unacceptable’ move, France says

France’s foreign minister refused to enter a holy site under French administration in Jerusalem on Thursday due to the presence of Israeli security forces, who briefly arrested two French officials in the latest rift between the two countries.

The incident, which comes amid strained diplomatic relations over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, occurred when Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was due to visit the compound of The Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives.