Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaks during a press conference. Photo: REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

New ambassadors from France, the Netherlands, Austria, Rwanda, and Ghana formally presented their diplomatic credentials to Israel on Monday, signaling a commitment to international cooperation even amid strained relations with Paris and Amsterdam and deepening diplomatic divisions.

During a credential ceremony in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog received the credentials of the five new ambassadors: Stella Ronner-Grubačić of the Netherlands, Christophe Parisot of France, Arad Benkö of Austria, Emmanuel Bayingana of Rwanda, and Evelyn Korantemaa Ofosu-Amable of Ghana.

Even as Israel seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties with countries around the world, Herzog was quick to acknowledge mounting strains in bilateral relations with the Netherlands, particularly since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, amid a growing international boycott campaign against the Jewish state.

“These are challenging times for relations between Israel and the Netherlands. We are concerned by what we are seeing and hearing from both Dutch public opinion and the government,” the Israeli leader said in a statement. “There is an onslaught against Israel that fails to recognize our role in defending Europe or acknowledge that Israel is a vibrant democracy.”

Herzog’s remarks come amid escalating tensions over the Netherlands’ recent ban on goods from Israeli communities in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, a decision that made the Netherlands the latest country to impose such restrictions on Israeli goods. Israel responded by revoking the diplomatic credentials of Dutch officials in Ramallah

As one of the most far-reaching measures yet, the Dutch law not only prohibits imports from the West Bank or the Golan Heights but also the sale and purchase of such goods in the Netherlands, including products containing ingredients or components sourced from these areas, preventing companies from bypassing the restrictions by routing products through other European markets.

Even further, the law applies to Dutch citizens abroad, meaning a person could face prosecution after knowingly purchasing goods from these areas while outside the country, with violations carrying a maximum penalty of up to six years in prison.

During the credential ceremony, Herzog also pointed to France’s longstanding historical ties with Israel, calling for both countries to overcome current challenges, reinvigorate bilateral cooperation, and work toward “building a new path forward” amid mounting tensions between the two allies.

Incoming Ambassador Parisot pledged to bridge the growing divide between France and Israel, vowing to rebuild bilateral cooperation at a time of heightened diplomatic friction.

“The relationship between our countries is longstanding, its roots run deep, and the bond between our peoples is exceptionally close. I will dedicate all my energy to strengthening it,” the French diplomat said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire last week after describing an Islamophobic attack as the first time French citizens had been targeted because of their race or religion — prompting condemnation from Jewish leaders who said his remarks overlooked victims of previous terrorist attacks motivated by antisemitism.

Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), the main representative body of French Jews, called on Macron to retract his remarks, pointing to a long list of Jewish and non-Jewish victims murdered in terrorist attacks in France because of their religion over the years.

“To kill a French citizen because of the color of their skin or the religion attributed to them is to attack the entire republic,” Arfi said in a statement.

“We stand unequivocally with the victims. It is precisely for this reason that the president’s statement must be corrected, because unfortunately, this is not ‘the first time that an act of terrorism kills our brothers, our children, because of the color of their skin or the religion attributed to them,'” he continued.

At Monday’s ceremony, Herzog also described Israel and Austria as close partners, praising the countries’ “warm friendship” and citing their cooperation in innovation, trade, and security, as well as Vienna’s commitment to “combating antisemitism and preserving Holocaust remembrance.”

The Israeli leader further pointed to opportunities to expand Israel’s cooperation with Rwanda and Ghana, building on existing ties with Kigali in agriculture, innovation, and education while pursuing new partnerships with Accra in technology, healthcare, and water management to strengthen Israel’s broader engagement across Africa.