A recent visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to the Éléona pilgrimage site in East Jerusalem turned contentious when Israeli police entered the location armed and without authorization. Barrot condemned the incident as ‘unacceptable’ and refused to enter the site, which France has managed for over 150 years. The police subsequently detained two French gendarmes briefly. This event has sparked diplomatic tension, highlighting the complex status of French properties in Jerusalem, which differ from embassy grounds and remain subject to Israeli laws despite France’s historical claims over the site.