French diplomat Marion Fesneau-Castaing punched an Israeli soldier in the face at the weekend prompting Israel’s Foreign Ministry to demand “an explanation of this blatant violation of diplomatic codes of conduct,” according to reports from AFP and Israel Hayom on Sunday.
Israel Hayom published footage of Fesneau-Castaing striking a helmeted border policeman on the chin with her fist. The punch was thrown on Friday, when IDF troops arrived to disperse a group of European diplomats as they tried to hand out tents and other equipment to Bedouin in Khirbet al-Makhul.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said,
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“Israel rejects the one-sided announcement which was published by the spokespersons of HR [Catherine] Ashton and Commissioner Georgieva regarding the events in the Northern Jordan Valley. This announcement ignores the European diplomats’ blunt violation of the law, their disregard to a ruling of the Israeli court and their unnecessary provocation under the alleged pretext of humanitarian aid.”
“Diplomats are sent by their governments to be a bridge and not act as provocateurs,” it said. “Israel has already made it clear that it will not accept this misconduct. Israel’s response will reflect the seriousness of these violations.”
Foreign ministry spokesman Paul Hirschson told AFP that Fesneau-Castaing lay down on the ground as an act of “passive resistance” against enforcement of a court order against unlicensed building by Bedouin.
“She was removed from the vehicle… then she dropped herself onto the ground… nobody threw her on the floor,” he told AFP. “There was violence from her side when she stood up and she walked over and she punched the officer in the face,” Hirschson added.
On Monday, Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that a group of houses, stables and a kindergarten in Khirbet al-Makhul did not have proper building permits, leading to Israel’s decision to destroy the structures.
Israel Hayom cited the IDF as saying that its forces had tried to stop locals erecting tents in the area on Friday and locals and “foreign activists” had responded by throwing rocks. The IDF used non-lethal riot dispersal means after the rocks were thrown.
CuriousAmerican Said:
Confiscate her cheese and whine!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You cannot jail a diplomat without France retaliating.
That being said:
The reports all say that not only French, but British, Irish, Spanish, and EU diplomats were in the convoy.
All of the diplomats who were in that convoy should be expelled.
Israel should reduce its European diplomatic staff to a skeleton crew and demand the same of EU embassies in Israel.
This may have been staged with an idea to blaming the IDF for a staged incident.
The core issue here is not diplomats complaining about Israel’s internal polices – Diplomats will do that. It is common for diplomats to lodge complaints on behalf of others. Israel complains if Jews are mistreated in other countries.
THE CORE ISSUE IS THAT THE EVENT WAS STAGED. THIS STARTS TO STRADDLE A BLOOD LIBEL!
If there is any doubt about whether she was tossed to the ground, or whether she faked it, the IDF should investigate immediately, and Israel should take action accordingly with the results.
What happened is less important that the fact that it was staged. An EU-Pallywood Production.
It is not clear who started it, but it is seems to have been staged.
By the end of the year?! If an IDF investigation shows that she faked the fall to the ground – and this can be determined in one hour – then she and the other diplomats who were in the convoy should be given 24 hours to leave; even if it means diplomatic retaliation from the EU.
She should have been jailed and indicted for assault and battery of an officer.
It would be hilarious but considering the cowardly, trashy, stupid, treasonous “government” history of betrayals, it is not surprising that the french female maggot was not packed out immediately.
Rodney Dangerfield was funny but sent a clear image.
Netanyahu is a pompous derriere jackass, he is simply pathetic, ghastly, dangerous to all of us.
I am decorated former IDF soldier and must say that I have no idea why anyone still enters the so called “military” today. What for? To attack Jews and get thumped by everyone else?
They demote a Colonel who is religious and reacted properly when assaulted by the foreign excrement. And they allow a filthy wench from france to punch our kids in uniform.
Netanyahu must be removed and sent to confront a new and freely elected court system
@ NormanF:
But, in reality, Rodney probably did have “self”-respect
Strong complaint, my tuchis!
Israel’s pusillanimous government is so afraid of its own shadow that it would not kick her out of the country for assaulting a Jew!
The Russians reacted far more harshly to attempted Greenpeace squatting on a Russian oil rig in the Arctic Ocean.
Like I always like to say, the Jews remain the Rodney Dangerfield of the nations.