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Israel Foreign Ministry tweeted on 2026-07-25 that France “financed the…

2026-07-25 · 08:53 UTC ·@FrenchResponse ·0 min read

Brief

@FrenchResponse refutes Israel Foreign Ministry's 2026-07-25 accusation that France funded PA bulldozing at Sebastia to build a playground. The reply says French funding targeted nearby tourist amenities, not the playground, citing a sign that limits funding to "rehabilitation of the panorama area + tourist kiosks," with a community note and state-affiliated confirmation.

Why it matters

Israel Foreign Ministry tweeted on 2026-07-25 that France “financed the Palestinian Authority's bulldozing through Sebastia’s ancient archaeological site to construct a playground,” calling it “vandalism funded by France.”

Key details

  • @FrenchResponse counters the claim, saying France funded nearby tourist amenities—not the playground—and that a posted sign explicitly states French financing covered only "rehabilitation of the panorama area + tourist kiosks"; a community note and a state-affiliated account reportedly confirm the playground was out of scope.
Source evidence

Nope.

France 🇫🇷 funded tourist amenities near the site. Not the playground.

And the sign you shared explicitly says so 👓

Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA)

Vandalism funded by France.

France, UNESCO's host country, financed the Palestinian Authority's bulldozing through Sebastia’s ancient archaeological site to construct a playground. Now, the PA is asking @UNESCO for emergency "protection."

Destroying an archeological site and claiming it needs protection is sheer hypocrisy.

Community note: The playground was out of the scope of French financing, as stated on the sign (it includes only the rehabiliation of the panorama area + tourist kiosks).

This has been confirmed by a state-affiliated account:
x.com/i/status/20809…

— https://nitter.net/IsraelMFA/status/2080276749917487434#m