Israel Envoy Likens Mélenchon Rhetoric to Hitler as France Logs 1,320 Antisemitic Acts
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 27
Israel Envoy Likens Mélenchon Rhetoric to Hitler as France Logs 1,320 Antisemitic Acts
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 27
Israeli ambassador Joshua Zarka said Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s speeches "remind me of Hitler," accusing the far-left leader of exploiting anti-Israel rhetoric to unite crowds against Jews and win votes.
France recorded 1,320 antisemitic acts in 2025, up from 436 in 2022, and Zarka said foreign influence from Iran, Russia, Turkey and Qatar is helping drive the surge.
Recent cases ranged from an assault on a boy wearing a kippah and acid sprayed in a Paris kosher restaurant to an alleged antisemitic terror plot involving a weapon, acid and an Islamic State flag.
Jewish leaders said some families now hide mezuzahs or use different names on apps to avoid identification, even as they insist Jewish life must remain visible rather than retreat in fear.
The rise has also fed emigration concerns: immigration from France to Israel climbed above 2,000 in 2024 and 3,500 in 2025, with about 4,000 projected for 2026.
With attacks tripling and emigration surging, is French Jewish life facing an existential threat?
Is the fight against antisemitism forcing an unthinkable alliance between Israel's right and France's far-right?
Escalating Antisemitism in France (2023–2025): Fatalities, Controversy, and National Response
Overview
Between 2023 and 2025, France faced a sharp rise in antisemitic acts, deeply affecting the Jewish community. Although the number of incidents slightly decreased in 2025, attacks became more violent, with the highest fatalities in 30 years and most acts targeting individuals. The French government responded firmly, with leaders like Aurore Berge declaring anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism and pushing for strong legal measures. These developments highlight the personal impact of antisemitism, its spread into schools, and the government's determination to address both the violence and its evolving forms.