By: Fern Sidman
French authorities have ceased the renewal of work visas for Israeli El Al security personnel stationed in Paris, according to a detailed report by Ynet News. The freeze, now in effect for approximately six months, is impacting Israeli staff working under the ITAN program, a specialized designation for Israeli nationals assigned to support diplomatic missions abroad.
As Ynet News reported, the policy change has left a number of El Al security guards without valid residency permits in France, effectively placing them in a legal limbo. While some have managed to remain in their positions by securing temporary diplomatic visas through the Israeli embassy in Paris, others are facing uncertainty about their ability to continue operations in the country.
The affected personnel are part of a broader Israeli aviation security apparatus that operates internationally to safeguard flights and passengers, particularly those traveling on Israel’s national carrier, El Al. Under the ITAN framework, these guards—though not diplomats—are granted special status to perform duties that often include close cooperation with airport authorities, French security services, and Israeli intelligence representatives abroad.
According to the information provided in the Ynet News report, the halt in visa renewals has not yet disrupted flight operations, but it has created operational challenges. The reduced stability of staffing could complicate long-term planning for security coverage at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where El Al flights undergo heightened pre-boarding screening procedures.
Sources cited by Ynet News have linked the freeze to rising tensions between Paris and Jerusalem over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While French officials have not issued a formal explanation, individuals familiar with the matter told Ynet News that the decision may reflect political currents within French governmental bodies, some of which are perceived in Jerusalem as increasingly critical of Israeli military operations.
This diplomatic undercurrent comes at a time when bilateral relations between France and Israel are under strain, with policy disagreements extending beyond the battlefield to encompass broader security and humanitarian considerations.
The Israeli embassy in Paris is actively involved in attempts to resolve the situation. Ynet News reported that embassy officials have initiated discussions with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an effort to secure the reinstatement of work visa renewals for ITAN personnel. In the meantime, the embassy has issued temporary diplomatic documentation to some guards, allowing them to maintain their positions and avoid abrupt departures.
A source speaking to Ynet News indicated that these interim measures are far from a long-term solution, noting that the diplomatic visas provided to non-diplomatic staff are not designed for indefinite renewal and may face their own bureaucratic hurdles in the months ahead.
El Al’s security protocols—considered among the most rigorous in the world—are a core component of Israel’s national security posture. The airline’s security teams abroad operate as an extension of Israel’s broader counter-terrorism framework, integrating intelligence and surveillance capabilities into routine passenger screening and aircraft protection measures.
As the Ynet News report emphasized, any reduction in the stability or legal status of these teams poses potential operational vulnerabilities. While no security incidents have been linked to the current visa freeze, Israeli aviation authorities are closely monitoring developments to ensure that the protective measures surrounding outbound and inbound flights remain uncompromised.
Past disagreements between host countries and Israel over security personnel have occasionally arisen in other jurisdictions, often tied to differences in legal authority or jurisdictional oversight at foreign airports. However, the prolonged freeze in France appears to be more closely linked to the current geopolitical environment, according to the analysis provided by Ynet News.
If the standoff continues, it could set a precedent that complicates Israel’s ability to station specialized security teams in countries where political sentiment may be shifting. Some Israeli officials quoted by Ynet News expressed concern that similar restrictions could emerge in other European countries if tensions over the Gaza war escalate further.
For now, the Israeli embassy’s engagement with French authorities remains the principal channel for resolving the matter. As the Ynet News report has noted, a resumption of visa renewals would require either a policy reversal or a negotiated arrangement that preserves the legal status of ITAN staff without altering the French government’s broader stance on the conflict.
Until such an agreement is reached, El Al’s security contingent in Paris will continue to operate under a patchwork of temporary arrangements, relying on diplomatic support to bridge the gap between operational necessity and administrative impasse