Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s right-wing National Rally party, has strongly criticized President Emmanuel Macron’s recent position on Israel, calling it “anti-Israel rhetoric” delivered “at the worst possible time.”
Speaking at a rally in Lyon, Le Pen warned that Macron’s statements could harm France’s international reputation and jeopardize relationships with key allies. “In today’s volatile climate, France should advocate for peace and stability — not take a one-sided stance,” she declared.
Earlier the same day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that Israel’s easing of humanitarian aid access into Gaza was “insufficient” and warned of “possible consequences” if conditions on the ground did not improve. The comments were met with backlash from both right-wing political circles and Jewish organizations in France, who viewed the remarks as undue political pressure on Israel during an ongoing conflict.
Le Pen reiterated that her party would continue to support alliances with democratic nations in the Middle East and oppose any form of diplomatic posturing that could be interpreted as favoring terrorist regimes.
Political analysts see Le Pen’s remarks as part of a broader strategy to strengthen her position ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections. Opposition leaders, however, accused her of exploiting the Middle East crisis for political gain.
