This Is How France Uses Its Legislative Institutions to Protect Israel’s Interests

A controversial bill recently introduced by two French Senate lawmakers aims to criminalize, jail, and fine anyone who dares to criticize “Israel” or anti-Semitism and Zionism.

This has heightened fears among many that this could be used as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression, and that it could lead to interpretations that would amount to criminalizing an opposing political opinion, especially those critical of the Israeli occupation.

In addition, there is concern that the law could be used against the Muslim community in France or leftist movements that criticize Israeli policies.

It is worth noting that France is not the first country to use its legislative institutions to protect Israel's interests under the guise of combating Semitism, as it has been preceded by several countries, most notably the United States.

'Anti-Semitism'

France has recently sought to implement a new bill as a form of support for Israel, with members of the French Senate seeking to pass a bill on combating anti-Semitism that could lead to several years in prison and a large fine.

The bill was introduced by Republican senator Stephane Le Rudulier on October 1, 2024, and was co-authored by his counterpart Roger Karoutchi.

Speaking about the bill, Le Rudulier said that anti-Zionism has always escaped punishment because it is separated from anti-Semitism.

This bill is inspired by that used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and has been adopted by many countries despite widespread opposition.

The proposed text also proposes tougher penalties for public incitement to anti-Semitism, including on social media, and expanding criminal offences to include statements that are ambiguous or not covered by current law.

On his part, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is seeking to implement the law even before it is officially adopted, saying that anti-Zionism is often used as a cover for anti-Semitism, which France will not accept.

Some French politicians have repeatedly raised the idea of strengthening the fight against anti-Semitism by criminalizing anti-Zionism, especially in the wake of the recent Gaza war.

It is noteworthy that the French Senate had approved, on October 5, 2023, a bill submitted by the right, and supported by President Emmanuel Macron’s team and government, restoring the definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA.

Several international and human rights organizations had warned against this definition and warned that it could inadvertently encourage or ratify policies and laws that undermine criticism of Israeli government policies.

It is noteworthy that the French National Assembly had voted in 2019 on a similar law, submitted by the Renaissance party (Macron’s party). But the previous two laws were not mandatory, nor did they carry criminal punishment.

To date, eight European countries have adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism: Romania, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy, the UK and Macedonia.

It is worth noting that France will be a candidate for the presidency of the IHRA in 2027.

Last July, France and 26 other countries adopted the Global Guidelines for Combating Anti-Semitism.

Israeli Lobbies

Like other French presidents, French President Emmanuel Macron has been defending French secularism since he came to power in 2017. However, he violated this principle on December 8, 2023 (today National Council for Secularism) when he participated in lighting the Hanukkah candle inside the Elysee Palace in memory of the Israelis who were killed during the Al-Aqsa Flood.

This unprecedented event in the history of the French Republic shed light on the extent of the penetration of Israeli lobbies in France to the point of reaching the top of power, and their ability to direct French public opinion.

The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) is one of the most important arms of the lobbies supporting “Israel” and defending Tel Aviv's interests in France.

This lobby was founded in 1944 and includes about 100,000 people, and is linked to the World Jewish Congress, which supports the Zionist movement.

According to French experts, the CRIF has become a central player in French political life.

Alongside this council is the Union of Jewish Students in France (UEJF), an extension of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions, with around 15,000 members.

It played a role in the current Israeli aggression on Gaza by intimidating participants in demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians in French universities.

The far-right Betar association also stands out as a powerful arm of the Israeli lobby in France, and this association, which exists in the United States and Britain, adopts an extremist approach.

This association was founded by Vladimir Jabotinsky, who is considered an inspiration for the Israeli right, represented today by Benjamin Netanyahu, and before him by Ariel Sharon, and among its members was the French lawmaker Meyer Habib.

The fourth organization active in the Israeli lobby in France is the Jewish Defense League (LDJ), a French branch of a Zionist movement founded in America in the early 2000s, which carried out violent and striking actions, and from which emerged the far-right Kach movement, one of whose most prominent members is the Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

As for the most important figures in the Israeli lobby in France, for example, there are the brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, owners of Chanel and France's largest billionaires, in addition to the Rothschild family, which is influential in the banking sector.

On the intellectual scene, the name of Bernard-Henri Lévy stands out, known as the ‘Godfather of Israel’, who has traveled between several countries, strongly defending the crimes of the Israeli occupation in Palestine.

There is also a strong influence of the Israeli lobby defending the Zionist ideology in a number of French media outlets, such as LeJDD, Canal+, Europe1, C8 and CNews.

Important Role

On March 19, 2024, the French president summoned members of CRIF to the Elysee Palace on the occasion of the organization’s 80th anniversary, and gave them a speech in which he vowed to fight anti-Semitism.

According to Macron, the government has been resolute in confronting anti-Semitism wherever it is, on the streets, behind the screens, in our universities.

CRIF president Yonathan Arfi expressed his regret at the increase in anti-Semitic acts and warned that the republican model was being attacked in an unprecedented way in 80 years.

This high regard for an influential Jewish organization in France by the highest official in the state, according to observers, provides guarantees to defenders of Zionist thought and lends it legitimacy.

Two months later, outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal affirmed France’s patronage of Israel’s allies and thinkers in France.

On May 6, when he attended the annual CRIF dinner, he pledged to show the utmost firmness to protect Jews and combat anti-Semitism.

This great influence of CRIF on political decisions within France was acknowledged by senior officials. Former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner admitted that the Elysee’s change in its policy towards Iran was motivated by a desire to get closer to “Israel”.

Another event that confirms the ability of the Israeli lobby to intervene in choosing public affairs managers and government officials is its objection to the appointment of former diplomat Hubert Vedrine as Foreign Minister in 2007, eventually succeeding in removing him.

In issues that attracted great interest in French public opinion, CRIF played an important role and exerted great pressure that led to political decisions and even legislative amendments.

As an example, the establishment of a parliamentary committee headed by Meyer Habib, a member of parliament close to Netanyahu, to investigate the circumstances and conditions of the murder of the Jewish woman Sarah Halimi in her home in Paris in 2017.

This measure was followed by widespread demonstrations and protests rejecting the decision of the Court of Appeal not to prosecute the suspect because he was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crime and to lift his criminal responsibility.

Moreover, in response to the demands of the Israeli lobby in France, in May 2021, Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti submitted a bill to the Cabinet that he said aimed to fill a legal vacuum after the Court of Cassation approved the appeal ruling against Halimi’s killer.

Another example that highlights the influence of the CRIF is the decisions to prosecute activists who call for a boycott of certain Israeli products, two of which were taken at the request of the Jewish community.

The latest manifestation of this tireless support for Israel is CRIF’s expression of anger and rejection of the decision to cancel the Israeli Shalom Europa Film Festival, which was scheduled to take place between September 8 and 10 in Strasbourg, accusing pro-Palestinian groups of practicing ideological terrorism.

Bowing to this pressure, the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian said that the threats and pressures being placed on the festival and the host cinema are unacceptable, confirming that she is in contact with the organizers of the Shalom Europa Festival to reschedule this festival as soon as possible.