The tense and dramatic surge of anti-Jewish incidents across France has sparked heated political debates and a powerful public demonstration in Paris, with over 100,000 participants, including senior politicians, coming together to voice their unity against antisemitism.
The event was marked by speeches from prominent figures such as Gérard Larcher, the French senate speaker, and Yaël Braun-Pivet, the lower house speaker, emphasizing the nation’s common history and commitment to combatting antisemitism.
The rising tensions in France have been attributed to the recent attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel and the subsequent month-long bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which resulted in a staggering increase of over 12,250 antisemitic acts since the conflict began.
While former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as several former prime ministers joined the march, French President Emmanuel Macron remained absent but expressed his support in a letter condemning the resurgence of antisemitism. Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, sparked controversy by attending the demonstration and calling for resistance to Islamic fundamentalism.
The event has deeply divided the French political class, with some parties expressing dissent and refusing to march alongside representatives of far-right groups. The Communist party leader, Fabien Roussel, and the leader of the radical left party, Unbowed France (LFI), Jean-Luc Mélenchon, were notably critical of the involvement of far-right parties in the event.
Amidst the controversy and political infighting, the march ultimately served as a platform for various factions to express their stance on the issue and make powerful statements denouncing antisemitism.
Despite the resistance and disagreements within the political landscape, the demonstration overshadowed any minor scuffles and provided a platform for people to come together and show solidarity in the face of rising antisemitism.