French Anti-Semitism Protest Rattles Extremist Groups on Both Sides of the Political Spectrum

This weekend in Paris, a major demonstration will take place that is unprecedented in its composition. It will include representatives from major political parties, including the far right but not the far left. The march aims to show support for French "Republican" values and reject antisemitism, which has been on the rise since October 7th. Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella of the National Rally are among the first to announce their participation, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed has stated that his party will not attend, calling the march a gathering for supporters of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. This shift in the political landscape is significant, as the far right was previously considered beyond the pale and was shunned, while the far left was included in the broader political family. However, the situation has changed, with the far right focusing on immigration, insecurity, and Islamism, finding common ground with many Jews, while the far left supports Palestine through an anti-colonial lens. This has led to accusations of antisemitism against the far left for not condemning Hamas as a terrorist organization. Despite nuanced opinions on the far right and the far left, opinion polls indicate that Marine Le Pen's National Rally is gaining more support, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon's France Unbowed is losing ground. Serge Klarsfeld, a prominent figure in the fight against antisemitism in France, expressed both relief and disappointment in the changing political landscape, stating that the far right embracing Republican values is a positive development, while the far left abandoning its fight against antisemitism is regrettable.