French Far-Right's Antisemitic Core and Shifting Alliances, Researcher Explains

Controversial Jerusalem Conference

• 🎯 A conference in Jerusalem, organized by the Netanyahu government to combat antisemitism, has sparked controversy due to the attendance of far-right European figures.
• ⚠️ Mainstream Jewish leaders and original invitees boycotted the event, citing the divisive guest list, including representatives from parties with historical ties to neo-Nazism and antisemitism.
• 🤝 The event is seen by observers as a significant shift in Israeli politics, potentially driven by Prime Minister Netanyahu's need for allies amidst growing domestic unpopularity.

National Rally's Historical Roots and Transformation

• 📜 The French National Rally party, represented by Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen's niece, has deep roots in antisemitism and neo-Nazism, founded by individuals with SS and collaborationist ties.
• 🔄 While the party, under Marine Le Pen, has attempted a "detoxification" and moved away from overt antisemitic statements, a formal act of repentance has never occurred.
• 💡 The party's current strategy, particularly under Bardella, involves distancing itself from its past and aligning with figures like Netanyahu, framing itself as anti-Islam and thus implicitly anti-Hamas.

Shifting Focus: Islamophobia Over Antisemitism

• 🧠 Researcher Paul Smith highlights a significant shift in the French far-right's focus from antisemitism to Islamophobia, targeting French Islam as a threat to cultural values.
• 🧩 This shift aims to rebrand the party, suggesting it has broken with its antisemitic past by identifying a new primary enemy.
• 🗣️ Bardella's statement emphasizing Charles de Gaulle over Vichy France is seen as an attempt to co-opt a different historical heritage, a subject of ongoing debate.

Legal and Political Classification

• ⚖️ The Conseil d'État, France's highest legal authority, has refused to declassify the National Rally as a far-right party, despite legal challenges.
• 🔍 The court's decision is based on the party's continued, albeit sometimes unofficial, association with its historical extremist positions and the presence of a deeply antisemitic hard core.
• 🚩 The term "far-right" in France carries strong negative connotations due to its association with Vichy, extremism, and scapegoating, making the classification significant.

Enduring Antisemitic Hard Core

• ⚠️ Despite attempts at rebranding and shifting focus to Islamophobia, a deeply antisemitic hard core remains within the party, according to researcher Paul Smith.
• 🚫 This core element, while not necessarily a majority, continues to define the party's far-right identity.
• 📈 The party's alignment with Netanyahu and its stance against Hamas are part of a broader cultural war strategy, but do not erase its historical baggage.