Controversy on the French left over its ambiguity in condemning Hamas attacks on Israel
The war in Israel has unleashed a new controversy in French politics, specifically due to the ambiguous attitude of the extreme left when condemning Hamas attacks.. The leader of Rebellious France, Jean Luc Mélenchon, compared these attacks on Saturday with the Israeli occupation policy in Gaza: “The armed offensive of the Palestinian forces carried out by Hamas occurs in a context of intensification of the occupation policy in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” said Mélenchon, who did not use the word “terrorism.”
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne criticized Mélenchon's “disgusting ambiguities” on Sunday, and assured that this anti-Zionism “is a way of hiding anti-Semitism.”. The criticism comes mainly from the socialist bloc, partners of La Francia Insumisa in Nupes, the coalition of left-wing parties in the Assembly.
This controversy delves deeper into the crack that already exists within this alliance, where the socialists increasingly differ from the positions of Mélenchon, who has also been ambiguous with support for Ukraine, for example.. Numerous leaders have attacked the leftist leader, from former president François Hollande to Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris. She has urged her party to “end the 'disalliance' with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, which has nothing to do with him.”
“Following Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a dead end. It was true yesterday, it is true today,” he said on Twitter (now X). “His positions against Israel and his refusal to condemn the terrorist organization Hamas are unsustainable.”. The Socialist Party cannot continue to lose itself. There can be no hope or victory in dishonour,” he said.
A Basque man and a woman from Seville, those missing after the Hamas attack on Israel: “I think they caught him and his wife”
A war that opens the doors to a nuclear Iran
Former minister Pierre Moscovici has deemed this position “desperate”. “Any position that does not clearly condemn Hamas makes me sick,” said socialist Jérôme Guedj.. That there are disputes “that they talk about Hamas as a Palestinian armed force disgusts me. Hamas is a terrorist organization,” said socialist Valérie Rabault.
La Francia Insumisa has defended itself against the criticism and accusations of Elisabeth Borne, “which are ignoble,” said Manuel Bompard, coordinator of La Francia Insumisa.. Some have accused the French government of “having closed its eyes to Israel's colonization of Palestine,” said Louis Boyard.
As disputes continue in seats, the Government is concerned about the safety of the Jewish community in France. Over the weekend, around twenty anti-Semitic acts have been recorded, such as graffiti, threats or calls, but there is “no concrete threat” against Jews in the country.
This was confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, who chaired a meeting on Sunday to assess security.. “We have witnessed ignoble statements from groups, associations and even political parties, appealing to hatred, appealing to the apology of terrorism,” Darmanin said this afternoon, after a meeting at the ministry with the affected groups.
On Saturday he already announced that places of worship and schools in the country would be secured and monitored after Saturday's attacks. In addition, some 700 reports of potentially criminal content have been received on the Pharo Internet surveillance platform and relevant judicial investigations have been opened.
This afternoon there is a rally called at half past six in Paris in support of the Jewish community organized by the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France. About 100,000 French or Franco-Israeli people live in Israel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of a French woman in the attacks this weekend, although it has not given details of her identity or the circumstances.. There are also several missing nationals