In brief
Jordan Bardella's upcoming visit to Israel marks a significant moment for France’s far-right National Rally party as it attempts to reshape its narrative on antisemitism, despite a complex legacy. His engagement against Islamist ideologies aligns his party with Israel's stance against Hamas, even as some within the Jewish community remain critical of the party's history.
Jordan Bardella, the newly elected president of France’s far-right National Rally party, is making headlines with his planned trip to Israel later this month, embodying an emblematic shift in his party’s political narrative. Striving to sever ties with the historical antisemitism that has long plagued the French far-right, Bardella articulates a strong commitment to oppose antisemitism, referring to it as a “poison” in society. He intends to participate in a conference in Jerusalem focused on combating antisemitism and will visit regions of Israel that were targeted in the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.This will be the first official visit of any leader from the National Rally, previously known as the National Front, to Israel, a nation that has often been at odds with party ideologies. Bardella's efforts to unify his party's narrative against what it describes as "Islamist ideology" have forged new alliances with Israel, particularly in the wake of increasing tensions surrounding security concerns from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This has, surprisingly, won over certain segments of the Jewish community in France.However, several influential Jewish figures remain apprehensive about Bardella's visit and the party’s ideologies. Bernard-Henri Lévy, a notable voice in the Jewish community, has publicly announced his withdrawal from the Jerusalem conference due to Bardella’s attendance, expressing concerns about the party's historical baggage, specifically the words of its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who had previously downplayed the significance of the Holocaust.As Bardella embarks on this important journey, the weight of his party’s past looms large against a backdrop of current geopolitical struggles. He aims to foster a narrative that promotes solidarity with Israel while navigating the complexities of historical memories and contemporary challenges. This trip symbolically encapsulates a new chapter for the far-right in France, balancing between acknowledgment of its past and an aspiration for future partnership in the fight against extremist ideologies.
