PARIS, France (AFP) — The United States (US) ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, was on Monday ordered to report to the French foreign ministry after he criticised Paris for what he said was its insufficient action against antisemitism.

The diplomatic row comes with concerns about an increase in antisemitic acts and hate crimes in France as international tensions mount over the conflict in Gaza.

In a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, Kushner, who is the father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, expressed his “deep concern over the dramatic rise of antisemitism in France” and the French government’s “lack of sufficient action” to confront it.

France on Sunday evening said “the allegations from the ambassador are unacceptable” and added that Kushner’s letter, which was released to the media, violated international law.

In July, Macron said France would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, sparking irritation in Israel and the United States.

Such gestures “embolden extremists, fuel violence, and endanger Jewish life in France”, Kushner said.

“President Trump and I have Jewish children and share Jewish grandchildren. I know how he feels about antisemitism, as do all Americans.”

In a rare move between the allies, Paris said Kushner was summoned to the foreign ministry on Monday.

“The rise in anti-Semitic acts in France since 7 October 2023 is a reality that we deplore and to which the French authorities are responding with total commitment, as these acts are completely unacceptable,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

Kushner, whose son Jared Kushner is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, was confirmed as France’s ambassador by the United States Senate in May.

– ‘Bargaining chip’ –

Members of France’s Jewish community have said the number of antisemitic acts has surged following the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023 which triggered Israel’s military response.

Last week, a group of 150 young Israeli tourists was refused entry to a leisure park in the south of France.

French prosecutors said at the weekend they had placed the manager of the park under investigation on suspicion of discrimination based on ethnic origin or nationality.

In another incident earlier this month, an olive tree planted in memory of a young Jewish man tortured to death in 2006 was felled outside Paris.

The cutting down of the memorial tree stirred outrage in France, with Macron vowing punishment over an act of antisemitic “hatred”.

France is home to western Europe’s largest Jewish population at around half a million people, as well as a significant Muslim community sensitive to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Kushner’s remarks tally with those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accused Macron of fomenting antisemitism.

On Monday, Equality Minister Aurore Berge defended the French government’s record.

“The French government’s fight against antisemitism is unambiguous,” Berge told broadcaster Europe 1-CNews.

“The issue is too serious. In my opinion, it is too important to be used as a diplomatic bargaining chip.”

She also acknowledged the rise in antisemitic incidents in the West.

“I think we have reached levels that are absolutely intolerable,” Berge said.

“There is a form of antisemitism in the air that is taking hold in all our democracies and that we are fighting against,” Berge said.

Patrick Klugman, a lawyer for several French victims of the October 7 attacks, said that antisemitism in France had reached historic levels but defended the French government and said Washington was in no position to lecture Paris.

“Over the past six years, no antisemitic murder has been committed in France, while sadly several have occurred in the United States. The contrast is striking,” he said on X.

“No country is in a position to lecture others, and all must revise their approach.”