PARIS: Some Jewish leftists and individuals are at a loss as to whom they should vote for in the snap parliamentary elections where the far-right is poised to make huge strides while the extreme left stands accused of anti-Semitism.
Leschi, spokesman for an association of Jews, collective Golem, mentioned that ‘the major threat’ was represented by “far-right groups endangering both Jews and society at large.”
He went on to add that “France Unbowed” (LFI) has a very big problem with anti-Semitism.
On June 30th and July 7th, three major blocks will vie for votes during the two-stage ballot; Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally (RN), Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp, and New Popular Front (NFP) which is the largest member of LFI-led alliance.
It was called “a shame” by Crif after France’s traditional left party of government entered into a pact with LFI who made their election campaign about hate against Jewsmaking hatred of Jews its electoral stock in trade,” the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (Crif) charged.
In order to dissuade one anguished voter during a phone-in show last week Raphael Glucksmann had to acknowledge that this alliance put her before “such an awful choice” but insisted that he could not refuse working with LFI on account of it being too great “threat” from far-right.
LFI maintains that it has never harbored any kind of anti-Semitism in its midst. This fact can be exemplified by their program along with other left coalition members such as condemnation of Hamas attacks and addressing Islamophobia as well as anti-Jewish sentiments.
‘Erasing history’ –
On the eve of the June 9 European Elections, Melenchon’s hard-left leadership spoke a lot about stopping Israel’s campaign in Gaza. He argued then that only”unsubstantial” anti-Semitism existed today in France.
The statements of the type have angered many Jews after anti-Semitic incidents increased by more than 300% y/y January-March and following October 7 attack and Israel’s reprisal in Gaza.
Two teenagers from a Paris suburb are now accused of raping and abusing a twelve-year-old Jewish girl, in what appears to be motivated by antisemitism.
The far-right candidate posted on social media that it was “terrible”.
Le Pen used this attack to accuse the “far left” of ‘antisemitizing’ Jews.
Her party was created together with the Nazi paramilitary Waffen-SS and was headed for many years by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who publicly declared his hatred for Jewish people several times.
Since then she has marginalized her father and renamed the group seeking to attract Jewish voters with open support for Israel.
Serge Klarsfeld, a historian researching German-occupied France during World War II gave an astonishing interview to the community on Saturday saying he would vote for RN over left alliance if he had to choose between them in the second round scheduled on July 7th
“My life rotates around defending Jewish memory, defending persecuted Jews, defending Israel,” said Klarsfeld as his arguments were summed up by a journalist present at the discussion.
Klarsfeld said LFI’s grip over far-left politics is making him feel vulnerable because it is associated with virulent anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism which are not characteristic of RN.
Philosopher Michele Cohen-Halimi, writer Francis Cohen and actor Leopold von Verschuer have published a joint op-ed in daily Le Monde Thursday which says: “Serge Klarsfeld is… worsening confusion and outdoing everyone in erasing history, which is part of the RN’s ideological programme.”
On Wednesday, two candidates who had made anti-Semitic posts on social networks lost support from the RN itself and its conservative allies.
-‘You must’ –
“The election is ‘totally weird’, Emmanuel Revah, comedian and activist against anti-Semitism told AFP.
“The most important thing is beating the RN” so he may vote for LFI.
“It’s hard enough thinking about my decision; I can say that I would prefer to choose something like these guys rather than total antisemites,” said the man.
Brigitte Stora, author of the book “Anti-Semitism: an intimate murder”, said “We don’t have a choice. We are voting for any candidate against RN.”
Once parliamentary polls are over though, she added “we have to take Melenchon and his little lieutenants out of the game.”
