On March 26 and 27, 2025, Jordan Bardella and Marion Maréchal, prominent figures of the National Rally (RN), will deliver speeches at an international conference in Jerusalem, organized by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora to tackle anti-Semitism. This event marks a significant milestone as Bardella intends to address the increasing anti-Jewish sentiment noted since the October 7 attacks, pointing fingers at the left-wing France Insoumise (LFI) and radical Islamists for its rise.
Following his participation in the March Against Anti-Semitism in Paris in November 2023, Bardella's role at this conference aims to bolster the RN's image as a credible defender against anti-Semitism, marking a clear break from the party's more problematic history under Jean-Marie Le Pen. Marine Le Pen, Bardella's predecessor, has long sought to reposition the RN as a legitimate political force after distancing it from anti-Semitic roots.
This invitation to speak comes in the context of the RN's attempts to normalize its image, especially among Jewish communities, and is part of a broader shift toward a more nationalist and right-wing international collaboration. Participants at the conference will include representatives from other far-right parties across Europe, raising eyebrows and sparking critical discussions about the ramifications of such alliances.
According to a report by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora from 2020, the main drivers of anti-Semitism in France were identified as radical Islam, the far-left, and the far-right, although the LFI was notably not mentioned. This omission has allowed the RN to define itself against the backdrop of anti-Semitism while simultaneously distancing itself from its controversial past.
Marine Le Pen's comments in 2024 recalling the historical Vél' d'Hiv round-up reflect her nuanced approach towards addressing historical anti-Semitism, a shift that segments of the Jewish community seem to find reassuring. 'On July 16, 1942, French authorities disfigured France by ordering the infamous Vel' d'Hiv roundup,' she stated, emphasizing her awareness of historical wrongs.
This change in tone, alongside a distancing from Jean-Marie Le Pen’s controversial remarks, has helped the RN cultivate a more palatable image. Jean-Marie, who previously remarked infamously in 1987 about the Holocaust, is now largely seen as a relic of a bygone era, allowing the RN to appeal to voters who are more concerned with the current surge in anti-Semitism.
Interestingly, while Jordan Bardella shares the political stage in Jerusalem with figures from various extremist right-wing movements, some factions within the Jewish community are reportedly re-evaluating their stance towards the RN. Many now seem to see the party as an ally against what they perceive as the more immediate threat of radical Islam.
In a further display of RN's outreach, on March 11, 2025, Julien Odoul, a member of the RN, conducted a tour of the French National Assembly for students from the Lucien-de-Hirsch Jewish school, indicating a growing acceptance, or at least visibility, of RN representatives within Jewish educational spheres.
Critics argue that the RN’s embrace of Jewish communitarianism is an attempt to sanitize its image and whitewash its historical ties to anti-Semitism. They note that while Bardella projects an image of allyship with the Jewish community, systematic patterns of neo-Nazi affiliation within the RN persist, as reflected in a number of troubling incidents involving current RN candidates.
The June 2024 legislative campaign revealed candidates with connections to Nazi-affiliated groups, including one who previously wore a Nazi officer's cap, stirring controversies and provoking questions about the RN's commitment to addressing anti-Semitism comprehensively. This duality encapsulates the RN's current dilemma: presenting itself as a bulwark against radical Islam while simultaneously grappling with its extremist affiliations.
Moreover, alongside this political maneuvering, the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is accused of using anti-Semitism as a political tool. Critics contend that the exclusion of leftist voices and militant rhetoric among far-right entities reflects a troubling cooperation. As they convene in Jerusalem, the conference also arrives at a time when Israel is facing accusations of gross human rights violations against the Palestinian population.
The event is slated to be endorsed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who will preside over the conference while Netanyahu is expected to deliver concluding remarks. This patronage aligns the Israeli government more closely with extreme nationalist sentiments across Europe, drawing parallels between domestic far-right politics and international diplomacy.
Critics caution that engaging with leaders who have historically been linked to neo-Nazism muddles the seriousness of combating anti-Semitism. The participation of figures from extreme right parties, such as Austria's FPÖ, Italy's League, and Hungary's Fidesz runs the risk of trivializing anti-Semitic crimes by linking them with wider anti-immigrant sentiments.
Reflecting on the complexities of the situation, a member of the RN underscored, 'It is anti-Semitism that prevents people from voting for us. That's all. From the moment you blow up this ideological lock, you free the rest,' implying an awareness of the political necessity to tackle anti-Semitism while leveraging existing fear among Jewish voters.
As Bardella and Maréchal prepare to address an audience that includes various factions of far-right politicians in Jerusalem, questions remain about the effectiveness of such a platform in addressing the genuine concerns surrounding anti-Semitism, particularly when those concerns appear marred by troubled histories. The reinvented RN’s commitment to fight against anti-Semitism might be seen as a veneer that masks deeper ideological divides and historical affiliations.
In the coming days, the conference will spotlight the tangled relationship between far-right politics in Europe and the fight against anti-Semitism, while testing the limits of unity among disparate factions who might often disagree on their fundamental beliefs. As this complex narrative unfolds, the outcomes at this event have the potential to change perceptions about both the RN and the current Israeli government.
Overall, the unfolding situation around this conference in Jerusalem stands as a testament to the changing dynamics of political alliances and their implications for social cohesion and human rights in both France and Israel.
