The debate on the conflict between Hamas and Israel promises to be heated on Monday. Two opposing political figures have already launched hostilities through the media. Since Yaël Braun-Pivet’s visit to Tel Aviv and his expressed support for Israel’s right “to defend itself”, criticism has been rife. Particularly from Jean-Luc Mélenchon who accuses him of “encouraging massacres” in Gaza. A look back at the controversy at the start of the week which promises a lively public debate on the question of the ongoing war.
The fourth state figure in Tel Aviv
After the Minister of Foreign Affairs last week, it was the President of the National Assembly who went to Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to show France’s support for Israel. Yaël Braun-Pivet was accompanied by the president of LR and deputy Eric Ciotti, the LR deputy for French people abroad Meyer Habib, and the Renaissance deputy Mathieu Lefèvre, president of the France-Israel friendship group.
This trip was made “out of solidarity with Israel and the French victims” and “in the hope that diplomacy will help avoid the escalation and regionalization of the conflict”, argued Yaël Braun-Pivet’s entourage. . It also aimed to “encourage humanitarian convoys for civilian populations”, as aid began entering Gaza on Saturday, coming from Egypt.
Israel’s “right to defend itself”
On site, the President of the National Assembly therefore recalled France’s support alongside the country devastated by the bloodiest attack ever perpetrated on its soil by Hamas on October 7. “France fully supports Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, a democracy which has been attacked in a terrible way. So there must be no mistake, no fight, no words,” she said.
“What is important is that the civilian populations in Gaza are victims of this conflict as little as possible. But we also know that they often serve as human shields. They must be preserved of course, but nothing should prevent Israel from defending itself,” she added. “There is an attacker and there are attacked,” she said of the conflict. In addition to the trip, it is this last declaration which triggered a wave of indignation in the French left-wing political class, at a time when Israeli bombings on Gaza have left more than 4,600 dead.
Outrage on the left and tweet from Mélenchon
This visit triggered a series of virulent criticisms from the left, which criticizes the President of the National Assembly for her “unconditional support” for Israel. Manuel Bompard thus denounced a “major political error”: “the president of the National Assembly of France appears alongside an army which is currently committing war crimes”, indignant L’Insoumis ahead of the rally in Paris for an “immediate ceasefire in Gaza”.
But it’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s tweet, accompanied by a rally video in support of the Palestinian population, which really ignited the controversy: “Here is France. Meanwhile Madame Braun-Pivet camps in Tel Aviv to encourage the massacre. Not in the name of the French people! »
Wave of indignation
The scathing terms used by the leader of La France insoumise in turn immediately provoked controversy, with ministers Marc Fesneau and Olivier Dussopt referring in unison to “a tweet of shame”. “Here is the subliminal message from Jean-Luc Mélenchon: to designate the Jews as the party of foreigners and of war,” said Crif president Yonathan Arfi, denouncing “anti-Semitic rhetoric,” when Licra singled out “electoral anti-Semitism”. Unease has also spread to socialist ranks, with MP Valérie Rabault targeting “accusations […] abject.”
“Target on the back”
The main interested party also expressed her indignation. Guest on France Inter Monday morning, Yaël Braun-Pivet accused Jean-Luc Mélenchon of having put “a new target on her back”, saying she was “very shocked”. She felt that he had not “chosen” his words “by chance”, in particular the term “camper”, a reference according to her to concentration camps. “Knowing Jean-Luc Mélenchon a little, I am convinced that the word camper was not chosen by chance and that the fact that I favor massacres is once again a new target that I am being put in back,” she explained. ” This is very serious “.
“I don’t understand why it’s the Jewish identity that stands out: I’m French, I’m not practicing, I’m not a believer but some people just don’t see that,” she lamented. “When I read certain tweets, when I directly receive threatening letters, of course I feel in danger, when I cannot leave my house without police protection,” detailed the President of the Assembly.