Peloni: Fitzgerald is quite correct as there should be no difficulty in identifying which parties reflect the best future for the Jews of France, as the distinctions could not possibly be more starkly defined than in this election. Eliminating the political opposition as a legitimate electoral choice, needlessly results eliminating any consequence to the ‘legitimate’ parties when they act to denude the interests and safeguards extended to the Jewish community, as has been increasingly the case over the past more than a decade in France. This institutionalized presumption by the Left that the Jews would vote for them no matter what they might do provided them with the institutionalized protection to abuse the Jews needlessly as they extended their interests and policies to win such allies to which the Jews should have not only objected, but should have had them voting for the opposition parties. In every democracy, participating equitably in the electoral process should be understood to be a duty more than an option for all citizens. For the Jewish community in particular, this duty should be fully embraced by rewarding those who promise and enforce protection to the Jewish community, while also penalizing those who act to abandon those protections, as has been the case by the Left for far too long to maintain any faith or support from the French Jews.
Hugh Fitzgerald | July 1, 2024
French Jews have long been wary of the parties of the right, parties that historically have welcomed antisemites and even some collaborators as members. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the father of Marine Le Pen and the founder of the far-right National Front, will always be remembered by French Jews for repeatedly describing the Nazi gas chambers as a mere “detail” of World War II. His daughter broke with him over this remark, denouncing him and expelling him from the party. Since then, she has had nothing to do with him personally or politically. Still, French Jews have been wary of supporting Marine Le Pen — until now. They have finally come to their senses. They have seen during the last eight months how Marine Le Pen and another rightist political figure, Eric Zemmour of the Conquête Party, have attacked Hamas and supported Israel. They now understand that the greatest threat to their wellbeing in France comes from both the burgeoning Muslim population, and from the hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the political party La France Insoumise, who attacks Israel, defends Hamas, and opposes any limits on Muslim immigration. More on French Jews and their political turn to the right can be found here: “French Jews turn to far-right National Rally: ‘We’re voting for the nicest enemy,’” by Michael Starr, Jerusalem Post, June 30, 2024:
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Pictured: French revolutionary Maximilien Marie Isidore de Robespierre (1758-1794) being executed by guillotine after the French Revolution. (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images)
