France has denounced Spain’s transport minister for his inflammatory remark referring to French Jewish teenagers as ‘Israeli kids’ following their removal from a flight. The French government described the label as discriminatory and expressed concerns over the heavy-handed tactics used by Spanish police during the incident. The incident has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, with France accusing Spain of failing to uphold its commitments to anti-discrimination principles.
Reports indicate that the Jewish teenagers were removed from a flight due to alleged security concerns, but the use of the term ‘Israeli kids’ by the transport minister has been widely seen as a provocative statement. French officials have emphasized that the remark not only undermines the rights of Jewish individuals in France but also risks escalating tensions between the two European nations. The French Foreign Ministry has called for an apology and a full investigation into the incident, stressing the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations.
In response, the Spanish government has defended its actions, stating that the transport minister’s comments were made in the context of security measures and not as a racial slur. However, many in France view the remark as a direct affront to Jewish communities, particularly in the wake of rising anti-Semitic incidents across Europe. The incident has also reignited debates over the appropriate response to alleged security threats and the potential for diplomatic tensions to arise from such issues.