France Admits Visa Freeze for El Al Security Guards Was ‘Personal Retaliation’

French officials have admitted that the recent freeze on issuing work visas for armed Israeli security guards accompanying El Al flights is a direct response to the way French diplomats have been screened by El Al’s security teams in Israel.

The revelation follows a Ynet report that France has stopped granting visas to El Al’s armed security personnel stationed at Charles de Gaulle Airport and other locations worldwide.

Speaking to Israeli reporters on Tuesday, French sources acknowledged the move was retaliation for what they described as “systematic checks” conducted by El Al’s security staff on French diplomatic personnel prior to boarding flights to and from Israel.

“For many months, members of the French diplomatic corps in Israel and Jerusalem have undergone regular screening by El Al security at Charles de Gaulle Airport before boarding the airline’s flights,” one official said.

He added that talks have been opened with the Israeli Embassy in Paris to resolve the dispute: “Meanwhile, a number of administrative steps related to this security system have been temporarily frozen. Discussions are ongoing to find a solution that meets the needs of both sides.”

An El Al employee told Israeli media that the situation has created an absurd reality: “In the past six months, all employees whose work visas have expired are not receiving renewals. This has never happened before, and no one is getting new approvals. It seems they are trying to end the employment of El Al security guards in France.”

The freeze, now openly acknowledged as a personal measure against Israeli security staff, has added another layer of tension to Israel–France relations.