PARIS: France has decided to impose sanctions on the Israeli ambassador following last week's temporary detention of several French consulate staff members in Jerusalem, as announced by the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday. In a statement to broadcaster France 24, Barrot expressed his disapproval, declaring the incident "unacceptable" and stating that he had summoned Israel's ambassador to France as a consequence. According to Anadolu Agency, the diplomatic tension arose after Israeli forces arrested two staff members of France's Consulate General in Jerusalem on November 7. Despite having diplomatic status, the staffers were detained, prompting their release through Barrot's intervention. The French foreign ministry condemned the arrests as unacceptable, emphasizing that Israeli security forces entered French premises without authorization. Barrot's decision to sanction the ambassador, Joshua Zarka, signals France's intolerance towards such incidents and its insistence on diplomatic respe ct. Barrot's planned visit to Eleona, a French national estate in the region, was also disrupted by Israeli security forces' unauthorized entry. The foreign minister chose not to proceed with the visit under the given conditions, according to a ministry statement from last week. In related developments, Barrot has yet to receive confirmation regarding Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's potential visit to France for a gala, despite a French court's dismissal of attempts to cancel the event amid opposition. In a broader context, Barrot also addressed the geopolitical implications of Donald Trump's reelection as US President, asserting that Europe is now better equipped to navigate the challenges of a second Trump administration. He highlighted a strategic shift in Europe's approach, moving away from the free trade dogma prevalent in 2016, and preparing for potential countermeasures against protectionist US trade policies. During Trump's first term, the EU responded to US tariffs on European goods wit h reciprocal measures, reflecting the evolving transatlantic economic landscape.