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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d like to keep the French as far away as possible from pretty much everything, but particularly when it comes to peace negotiations,\u201d said Israel\u2019s US ambassador Yechiel Leiter, who represented Israel at the negotiations in Washington, on Tuesday. \u201cThey\u2019re not needed. They\u2019re not a positive influence, particularly not on Lebanon.\u201d<\/p>\n While Le Pen is generally a staunch supporter of Israel and backed the Jewish state after the October 7 onslaught, she has recently criticized the war against Iran and distanced herself from Israel in the context of the current war with Hezbollah, calling this month for France to \u201cprotect Lebanon, its people and its sovereignty\u201d and backing Macron\u2019s proposal to include Lebanon in the regional ceasefire.<\/p>\n A few days earlier, she recognized the Jewish state\u2019s \u201cright, and even its duty, to defend itself and ensure the security of its territory and its inhabitants,\u201d while simultaneously urging the \u201conly democracy in the region\u201d to \u201crespect the rules of international law, particularly those relating to armed conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel has traditionally boycotted European far-right parties, including Le Pen\u2019s National Rally and its predecessor, the National Front.<\/p>\n In recent years, however, Israeli officials have begun engaging more openly with such factions. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli has cultivated ties<\/a> with European far-right politicians, and Jordan Bardella, another of National Rally\u2019s leaders, spoke in Israel at a government conference<\/a> on antisemitism last year.<\/p>\n Also, last year, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar instructed diplomats<\/a> to establish formal communication channels with Le Pen\u2019s party, along with far-right political parties in Sweden and Spain.<\/p>\n These parties \u2014 including Sweden Democrats and Spain\u2019s Vox \u2014 had previously been shunned by Israeli government institutions due to concerns over antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and their historical ties to fascist movements.<\/p>\n \t The Foreign Ministry, the President\u2019s Residence and the Prime Minister\u2019s Office had distanced themselves from these European factions due to their controversial histories and rhetoric.<\/p>\n Upon his appointment as foreign minister in November 2024, Sa\u2019ar analyzed the parties based on four key factors: their stance on Israel, their attitudes toward local Jewish communities, how Jewish communities in their respective countries view them, and whether they have actively confronted their antisemitic legacies.<\/p>\n The foreign minister ultimately determined that dialogue was viable with these three parties but decided to maintain Israel\u2019s policy of non-engagement with Austria\u2019s Freedom Party and Germany\u2019s Alternative for Germany (AfD), reports said at the time.<\/p>\n In February 2025, Sa\u2019ar met with Jewish and pro-Israel leaders in Brussels, where he explained his rationale. He emphasized that while Israel does not endorse every aspect of these parties\u2019 platforms, it is essential to recognize shifts in their policies and rhetoric. Sa\u2019ar argued that these parties have undergone reform, pointing to their pro-Israel stance and efforts to combat antisemitism.<\/p>\n Zarka\u2019s meeting with Le Pen came as the latter faces legal uncertainty ahead of France\u2019s presidential race next year. A court decision expected in July could determine whether she remains eligible to run after she was found to be embezzling European Union funds.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tIsraeli Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka. (Courtesy)<\/p>\n
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