Historic elections in France: the attitude towards anti-Semitism and Israel

France is in tension ahead of the snap parliamentary elections to be held on Sunday, in what is emerging as a historic landmark in French politics. For the first time ever, politician Marine Le Pen’s far-right RN party is expected to become the largest party, and take a central part in the next government to be formed. In high probability, the leader of the party, Jordan Bardella, may even be the next prime minister of France, under President Emmanuel Macron.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of parliament and the holding of snap elections following the defeat of his party in the European Parliament elections earlier this month. According to all the latest polls, the “Renaissance” party under his leadership is expected to end up as the third largest party – after the extreme right party and the union of the left parties, led by the extreme leftist Jean-Luc Melanchon.

Yesterday an election confrontation was held between the three party leaders, without Melanchon, who refrained from announcing himself as the party’s candidate for prime minister, possibly for fear of stealing the votes of the voters. Gabriel Atal, the current prime minister and a close associate of Macron, attacked his opponents, Bardella on the right and Manuel Bompard on the left, because they promise voters “the moon”, and he himself is wary of making promises he cannot keep. This did not prevent him last week from guaranteeing a 15% cut in the price of electricity and a shift to four working days, at least for some of the workers in the country.

Naturally, next to the economic platform, the issue of immigrants in France also plays an important and central role in the political discourse in France. Among the various parties, a significantly different attitude towards Israel is also evident. While Bardella made it clear that he would not agree to recognize a Palestinian state, since according to him this is a “prize for terrorism”, the situation is different from Atel’s point of view, while Melanchon and other elements on the left and the extreme left sometimes adopt anti-Semitic positions.

Access to immigration

Jean-Luc Melanchon, leader of the left-wing party “Le France Insomize”, has a progressive approach to immigration. He advocates an inclusive policy and claims that France should accept immigrants and refugees with respect. Melanchon emphasizes the humanitarian aspect of immigration and criticizes the restrictive measures proposed by the conservative and far-right parties. He believes that immigrants contribute positively to the French society and economy and calls for the regulation of the status of illegal immigrants and better policies for their integration.

Gabriel Ettel, serving as French Prime Minister from January 2024 and a member of Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, presents a more central approach to immigration. Although he acknowledges the need for a humanitarian and compassionate response, Atal emphasizes the importance of regulating migration to ensure social cohesion and security. He advocates a balanced approach that combines controlled borders with avenues for legal immigration and the integration of immigrants. Ettel strives to find a pragmatic balance that recognizes both the challenges and the opportunities that immigration presents to France.

Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right “National Union” party, has a strict and strict attitude towards immigration. Bardella supports strict immigration control and policies that prioritize the interests of French citizens. He calls for a significant reduction in immigration, and claims that it is a threat to France’s identity and security. Bardella’s rhetoric often emphasizes the need to protect France from the negative effects of immigration, in line with his party’s nationalist and protectionist agenda.

Access to Israel and anti-Semitism

Jean-Luc Melanchon has a complex and sometimes controversial attitude towards Israel and has even been accused more than once of anti-Semitism. He loudly criticizes the policies of the Israeli government, especially regarding the treatment of Palestinians. Melanchon supports the Palestinian struggle and called for stronger measures against the settlements and Israeli military operations. However, his criticism of Israel has sometimes led to accusations of anti-Semitism, which he vehemently denies. Melanchon seeks to distinguish between criticism of the policies of the State of Israel and anti-Semitic positions, and condemns the latter without reservation.

Gabriel Atal takes a more balanced and diplomatic approach towards Israel. He recognizes Israel’s right to exist and its security concerns, and supports a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through dialogue and negotiation. Ettel strongly condemns anti-Semitism and supports measures to combat it in France. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong bilateral relations with Israel while supporting efforts to achieve a two-state solution in the belief that it will ensure peace and security for both nations. Among other things, he is well remembered for his two pro-Israeli speeches during the war.

Jordan Bardella holds an approach that is compatible with the ideological framework of the “National Union”. The party has tried to distance itself from the anti-Semitic label that stuck to it in the past, and Bardella emphasizes strong support for Israel as part of a broader alliance against Islamic extremism. This position fits the party’s focus on security and nationalism. Bardella condemns anti-Semitism, presenting it as part of his broader critique of Islamic radicalism, and supports policies that strengthen ties between France and Israel. However, his rhetoric and the party’s history sometimes lead to skepticism and scrutiny from various parties regarding their commitment to comprehensively combating anti-Semitism.

To recognize a Palestinian state today would be to recognize terrorism,” Bardella said last week. When asked about the war in Gaza, he estimated that France’s position since “all times,” supporting the two-state solution, “became obsolete immediately following the Hamas attack” on October 7. “Recognize the state Palestinian today as we speak would be to recognize terrorism and it would be to recognize political legitimacy for an organization whose charter is written to destroy the State of Israel,” he said.